He was the Los Angeles city controller from 1977 to 1981, and was the Los Angeles city attorney from 1981 to 1984, both times being succeeded by James Hahn.
The passage describes a person who served as the Los Angeles city controller from 1977 to 1981 and then as the Los Angeles city attorney from 1981 to 1984. Both of these positions were subsequently filled by James Hahn.