Corpus Christi’s recently resigned city attorney, Miles Risley, has been hired by the Port Aransas City Council.
He was approved for the job in a unanimous vote during the council’s Sept. 17 meeting.
“I think that it's fantastic and I'm hoping I'm able to provide the service that y'all wanted and I [hope] that they can be beyond your expectations,” Risley told the council after the vote.
Risley, who had served as the city of Corpus Christi’s attorney for about 12 years, stepped away from his post in early August.
In a letter to City Manager Peter Zanoni announcing his plans, Risley had cited council dynamics as a driver, stating that he had tried “to stay out of political fights as much as possible, but, as you know, it is impossible to do so at our
level.”
“The deep divisions on City Council created by the removal action [against Mayor Paulette Guajardo]and lawsuits, and the personal attacks engendered by the removal action have damaged my ability to be effective as an attorney for this City,” Risley wrote in the letter, dated June 17.
Guajardo was ultimately not removed but put on a 30-day suspension.
In a public Q&A with the Port Aransas City Council, Risley named among his qualifications about 30 years’ experience in municipal law and his previous positions including representing the city of Wichita Falls and the city of Victoria, in addition to Corpus Christi.
“This job gives me the chance to apply the knowledge that I've learned in representing municipalities for 32 years — and representing coastal municipalities with their unique issues in both Corpus Christi and in Victoria — for decades and dealing with many of the same issues,” he said.
Risley had been one of four legal firms that had competed for the position in Port Aransas.
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Recently resigned Corpus Christi city attorney hired in Port Aransas
