NATIONAL CITY (KGTV) — An attorney investigating National City’s leadership is calling for greater transparency and accountability from Mayor Ron Morrison, raising concerns about the city’s finances, closed-door meetings, and his use of city authority.
Attorney Maria Severson is with Aguirre & Severson, LLP, and she most recently represented a well-known class action lawsuit against the City of San Diego's trash fees.
On Tuesday, she held a news conference outside National City's City Hall, just weeks after Morrison announced his retirement after 34 years of public service.
The news conference also comes at a time when the City faces potential insolvency. In recent City Council meetings, City Manager Doug Schulze said that National City is facing a $13M deficit that could grow to $30M by 2029.
Severson represents Micaela Polanco and Luisa McCarthy, owners of La Vista Memorial Park and Mortuary. Severson said her concerns about National City leadership began after her clients learned of a proposed development project called The Sweetwater Gas Station Project that they believed would have negatively impacted their business.
That project has since fallen through. ABC 10News also obtained documents from back in August 2025, when the former National City City Attorney, Barry Schultz, had released a statement clearing Mayor Morrison of any suspicious wrongdoing:
"Following an internal review and extensive public document releases, no evidence of undue influence, corruption, or misconduct has been found on the part of the City Staff, the Office of the Mayor, or City Council."
Severson said she has spent the last two years investigating National City’s leadership, raising questions about closed sessions and accusing Morrison of using city manager powers to advance his own interests.
“You cannot usurp the city manager’s authority when you want to," Severson said.
Severson also blamed Morrison for the city’s financial problems.
“The reason that National City is in dire financial straits right now is because of how the mayor has run this city over the past few years,” Severson said.
Morrison disputes all of Severson's claims.
In a statement, Morrison said, “The claims being presented today should be viewed for what they are—allegations and assertions, not established facts. Unfortunately, this is consistent with a pattern of claims made publicly by Maria Severson that I believe are inaccurate and unsupported by the facts."
In an interview with ABC 10News last week about his retirement after 34 years of service, Morrison said he believes the city’s financial problems are largely the result of City Council spending decisions.
“I’ve warned them that we can’t keep spending like this. This is going to catch up with us,” Morrison said. “We need to right-size our city, take a look at the things we’re doing. We need to stay within our means.”
In a statement, Morrison said, "I have been raising concerns about City spending and the need for fiscal responsibility for years. I have consistently advocated for watching our spending, living within our means, and maintaining appropriate reserves. I have not always agreed with the spending decisions made by the Council, and I believe taxpayers have every right to ask how their money is being spent."
Severson also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving Morrison’s personal attorney, Dan Gilleon, with Gilleon Law Firm, who's currently representing the mayor’s executive assistant.
ABC 10News reached out to Gilleon, who shared a copy of a complaint he filed in August of 2025, addressing Severson's allegations over the years and calling it a 'stunt'. Gilleon said his complaint debunks Severson's allegations, including about the Sweetwater Gas Station Project, and his decision to represent Morrison's executive assistant.
Severson said she wants transparency and accountability from the mayor. When asked what that accountability would look like, Severson said: “Accountability would look like a confession.”
Severson’s allegations during Tuesday’s news conference have yet to be independently verified.
Morrison maintains that his decision not to seek re-election had nothing to do with the City's current budget deficit. Morrison has repeatedly said he was ready to retire last term, but did not feel confident that the candidates at the time would have put National City first until now.
Morrison sent ABC 10News the following full statement in response to Tuesday’s press conference:
“The claims being presented today should be viewed for what they are—allegations and assertions, not established facts. Unfortunately, this is consistent with a pattern of claims made publicly by Maria Severson that I believe are inaccurate and unsupported by the facts.
After 34 years of public service, I believe the residents of National City deserve facts, transparency, and accountability—not sensational accusations made for the benefit of a press conference.
I have been raising concerns about City spending and the need for fiscal responsibility for years. I have consistently advocated for watching our spending, living within our means, and maintaining appropriate reserves. I have not always agreed with the spending decisions made by the Council, and I believe taxpayers have every right to ask how their money is being spent.
If there are legitimate concerns about the City, there are appropriate processes to investigate them. I welcome the facts and documentation being reviewed by the appropriate authorities. Until that happens, these claims should not be presented as if they are facts.
I also want to make one point absolutely clear: my decision not to seek re-election was made when I was last re-elected and has nothing to do with the City’s current deficit. After 34 years of dedicating my life to National City, I decided it was time to step away from public office and focus on my family and my own life.
I am proud of my 34 years of service, and I will continue to serve National City with honesty."
