Iovino fires back at critics

He is no longer working full time as an attorney, nor is he the attorney for the seventh Sanitary District. Tony Iovino is now working as the Oceanside Library’s Director of Community Services and he wants to set the record straight.

Iovino says social media is spreading rumors and they are simply not true.

“Contrary to what is being said on social media I am not now—and never have been—the Sanitary “District’s attorney” listed in the report.” He said that was a different attorney. “My firm has always had a written retainer agreement with Sanitation (almost identical to the one’s we use with other municipalities--all at a discounted rate and all having passed several audits without comment). I and my firm filed detailed monthly statements listing what was done, who did it, when they did it, and to the minute how much time they spent.” He said any criticism about a lack of time records was not directed at him or his firm.

He went on to say neither he nor his firm had anything to do with last year’s election. “Neither I nor my firm received the $96,000 referred to in the audit--that was another attorney. My firm billed and received less than half that amount for our services on specific, Board assigned projects, over the two-year audit period.”

Iovino said he is proud of the work he and his firm performed for Sanitation, and he is confident that their services were performed professionally and in the best interests of the people and the taxpayers of Oceanside.

He is now working for the Library as Director of Community Services. “I have shifted to part-time of counsel with my law firm.” He said he is finishing up a few cases and will limit his service to direct work for select clients, and consulting on client’s matters, which he has done before. “The result is a significant reduction in compensation,” he said. “My hours at the Library are such that I will be free to work at the firm--though it does mean that for the foreseeable future I will be working at least 6 days a week-- nothing new really! If need be, I will use vacation/personal days to handle firm matters, if necessary.”

Iovino is excited about upcoming library programs. He said libraries are being forced to shift focus as book circulation drops. He said the library advertised for the job, and after consulting with his wife and law partners he decided to apply for the job, and change his life. “Angela, of course, recused herself and resigned from the Board. And no, I do not represent the Library,” adding in the past he did render some pro bono work — as he has with countless other groups in town.

He is now responsible for coordinating and creating programming and events, e-newsletters, social media and media relations, grants, etc. for the Library. He said he has been doing the job as an unpaid volunteer for the past year and a half.

“I’ve been on the job a week and we’ve already started 3 new programs — with a lot more changes coming! I’ll be working with organizations around town to provide innovative and needed programming to Oceanside.”

He concluded by saying he is excited about the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Oceanside.