City Attorney Resigns

City Attorney Lysia H. Bowling has tendered her resignation, effective March 13.

Bowling joined the City of San Angelo in November 2009. Her tenure has seen many controversial issues pass across her desk, including the trash contract and the sand depot controversies. The latest was the blowup over Lee Pfluger's sand depot. Privately, some city officials said that her approach to the controversy, and advice, has been too limited and timid. Appellant H.R. "Winkie" Wardlaw III, a former city councilman said that the city legal staff was offering bad advice to council.

She was mysteriously missing from all of this year's most contentious meetings on the sand depot, and many were speculating that she was fired. City Manager Daniel Valenzuela denied her termination two weeks ago in an email.

According to the City of San Angelo, the city attorney represents the City in legal matters, providing counsel to the City Council, the city manager, and City departments and boards. The Office of the City Attorney is involved in matters such as the drafting and review of contracts, litigation, claims against the City for damages, eminent domain proceedings, collections, the prosecution of cases in Municipal Court, and adherence to open meetings and open records state statutes.

“Ms. Bowling is a tremendously hard worker, whose efforts were greatly appreciated,” Valenzuela said. “We wish her the best.”

Senior Assistant City Attorney Dan Saluri will serve in the post on an interim basis until a successor is named.