Council Votes 3-2 to Hire New City Attorney
In a split vote, the City Council has agreed to hire Joseph William Pannone, whose law firm also represents Culver City and Palos Verdes, as its new city attorney.
Pannone, of the Los Angeles law firm of Kane, Ballmer & Berkman, will replace interim city attorney Francisco Leal of Beltran, Leal & Medina, who has been the municipality’s legal counsel since 1996.
In a closed session late Wednesday, the council voted 3 to 2 to hire Pannone’s firm. Council members Paul Zee, Harry Knapp and Dorothy Cohen supported the selection; Councilman David Saeta and Mayor Wallace Emory dissented.
“They interviewed very well and it is a small firm willing to provide the kinds of service we want,” Knapp said.
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