FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Manager Jason Gage has named Rhonda Lewsader as City Attorney. Most recently the City’s Deputy City Attorney, Lewsader has been with the City of Springfield for 19 years, minus a short tenure as Republic’s City Attorney.
“Rhonda has served as Interim City Attorney since the position was vacated by Frank Romines. She is very bright and has done an excellent job managing the Law Department. The City benefits from her quality legal analysis and advice and I am very excited to make her an official member of the City’s Leadership Team,” said Gage.
The City Attorney assists the City Council, City management and all City departments with matters of municipal law and represents the city in all legal matters including civil actions brought by or against the city. Ordinances and resolutions that come before the City Council are routinely written by the legal staff. The Law Department employs 20 people.
“It is an exciting time in the City, with projects like the Idea Commons and the Art Museum’s Master Plan taking shape. I appreciate the opportunity to step into the role of City Attorney and look forward to providing legal support that will assist City Council and the City’s Leadership Team in implementing the projects and services that will build a better future for this community and allow it to continue to be a wonderful place to live,” Lewsader said.
Lewsader is a graduate of Missouri State University (Bachelor of Arts in Writing and a Master’s in Business Administration) and of Washington University School of Law (J.D.) Following graduation from law school, she worked as a public defender, before joining the City of Springfield in 1999.
Her appointment is effective Dec. 16. She will make an annual salary of $148,000.
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For more information, please contact Cora Scott, Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement, at 417-380-3352 or [email protected].