Joe was appointed as the Santa Ana City Attorney in August 1996. Prior joining Santa Ana, he spent nearly eight years with the City of Burbank, over six of those as the City Attorney. He has also served as a staff attorney with the cities of Modesto and Anaheim.

Joe received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Whittier College in 1977 and his Juris Doctor from University of the Pacific/McGeorge Law School in 1980. He is a member of both the California and Colorado bars. He has served on the League of California Cities’ Legal Advocacy Committee and the Community Redevelopment Association Legal Advisory Committee, and in various offices of the City Attorneys’ Associations of Orange and Los Angeles Counties.