Published: December 15, 2008 09:59 pm      

City attorney resigns, takes job in Bryan

Thomas Leeper submitted his resignation as attorney for the City of Huntsville to Mayor J. Turner on Monday morning.

Leeper’s resignation, which he also submitted to the other eight City Council members, is effective Jan. 23, 2009.

Leeper said he has taken the position of assistant city attorney in the City of Bryan’s legal department.

“It’s an opportunity to practice with a team of attorneys who work with municipal law so it will be a chance to expand my horizons,” said Leeper, who has served five years as Huntsville’s city attorney.

“It will be a chance to get back to the team of attorneys like I started with when I was with the Smither, Martin, Henderson and Blazek law firm. It is a good opportunity to get with a group of attorneys.

“I have been in a solo environment now for five years. It’s good to have a group of professionals who you can bounce ideas off of. There’s that synergy that exists when you have a team of people you can deal with.”

“I feel like it was something I have been able to give back to my community and broaden my horizons at the same time,” Leeper said of going to work for the City of Huntsville.

Leeper is a native of Huntsville, graduating from Huntsville High School in 1983 and Texas A&M University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1990.

He went to work for the Smither, Martin, Henderson and Blazek law firm in Huntsville, and the city then recruited him for the city attorney position in 2004, replacing Paul Isham.

“It wasn’t something I was seeking,” Leeper said of the city job. “I was very pleased and secure in my private practice. I worked with a great bunch of attorneys at the Smither firm.

“When Paul Isham decided to move on, they approached me. Members of the City Council, Paul Isham and former city attorney Scott Bounds also talked to me and encouraged me.”

Turner said Leeper informed him Monday morning of accepting a position with another city.

“I wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Turner said.

Turner said the city will begin advertising for city attorney candidates.

“We will try to attract a large field of qualified candidates,” he said.

Turner said he expects the city will hire an interim city attorney to serve until the city hires a replacement for Leeper.

He said an interim could be hired for two weeks to a month.

“Hopefully we can hire someone by the first City Council meeting in February,” he said. “That is our goal. We would like to make a recommendation when we have our first meeting in February.”

Turner said that according to the city charter the mayor will recommend the candidate to the City Council and it is up to the council to ratify his selection.

Turner said a committee made up of himself and council members Charles Forbus and Lanny Ray will interview the candidates beginning in late January.