Council Nears Decision on Hiring City Attorney
The City Council is expected to make a decision on a new city attorney tonight..
Council members met behind closed doors Monday to discuss representatives of the four law firms vying for the contract.
The council interviewed attorneys from Richards, Watson & Gershon; Brown, Winfield & Canzoneri; and Kane, Ballmer & Kerlman, as well as the acting city attorney firm--Beltran, Leal & Medina.
Sources familiar with the selections said Richards, Watson and Kane, Ballmer are considered the front runners.
A local attorney for a neighborhood group has already objected to the prospect of Michael Colantuono, of Richards, Watson, becoming city attorney, saying the selection would constitute a conflict of interest.
Colantuono, a veteran municipal lawyer, represented Holy Family Church of South Pasadena before the city on a modernization project last year that was bitterly opposed by neighborhood activists.
Acting City Atty. Francisco Leal has served in the position since 1996.
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