Key West needs a new city attorney to replace Shawn Smith, who, after 16 years on the job, submitted a sharply worded resignation letter on Nov. 9 that criticizes the mayor’s overreach and questions her honesty.
Officials discussed the process for replacing Smith during the Nov. 15 city commission meeting. Commissioner Billy Wardlow said he wants to appoint Assistant City Attorney Ron Ramsingh to the position.
“I believe in hiring from within, and we have an assistant city attorney who has done the job for 16 years and has been loyal to the city,” Wardlow said.
Mayor Teri Johnston replied, “So you want Ron Ramsingh to apply?”
Wardlow said, “He doesn’t even have to apply, he could be appointed as we did with the city managers, which would save us a lot of time.”
But Wardlow’s suggestion ended there, as Johnston and Commissioner Sam Kaufman began discussing the position’s job description, where the job would be advertised and a potential search committee.
The commissioners largely agreed that an interim city attorney will be needed during the search, as Smith will finish work at year’s end.
Sources close to the matter told the Keys Weekly that some elected officials want Ramsingh in the interim position, while others would like to see Nathalia Mellies, the other assistant city attorney, as interim.
When Smith was hired in 2006, a local search committee that included six local attorneys and then-mayor Morgan McPherson was formed to evaluate the applications, City Clerk Cheri Smith told the commission.
“How did that work out?” Johnston asked.
“I think it worked out great, because we got Shawn for 16 years,” Wardlow said, joking that he’d like Smith to sit on the search committee.
In his resignation letter, Smith expressed gratitude and support to the six commissioners, while targeting the mayor with criticism.
“I cannot remain quiet watching the City devolve into a mayor-run style of government rather than the manager-commission form called for in our charter,” Smith wrote “It seems we have forgotten that our primary obligation should be helping ALL citizens get to yes within the bounds of the rules we have. To say we are internally dysfunctional is an understatement. Worst of all, is the rarity in which the truth enters the mayor’s vocabulary.”
His complete letter is available at keysweekly.com.
Smith will become co-general counsel at the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, with the water utility’s current attorney, Bob Feldman.
