Lela Henke-Dobroth is a lifelong resident of Ventura County. Her family settled here in 1928.
Lela began her legal career with the Ventura County District Attorney's office in 1975 as a secretary. During that time, she fell in love the the law and dedicated herself to public service by enrolling in law school at the Ventura College of Law. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 1981 and was immediately sworn in as a Ventura Couty Deputy District Attorney.
Her remarkable 23-year career as a prosecutor began in the Misdemeanor Unit. She was soon-after recognized for her management ability and tenacity as a skilled trial attorney and promoted to the Sexual Assault/Career Criminal Prosecution Unit and Major Crimes Unit. In 1994, Lela was appointed Chief Deputy District Attorney of the General Criminal Division where she served until 2003.
She is married to retired Ventura County judge John E. Dobroth since 1985 and has three children named Greg, Eric and Kayla.