Assembly Selects Jones as City Attorney

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Created on Monday, 16 September 2024 15:39

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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    In a 45-minute special meeting, the Assembly voted unanimously Friday night in favor of hiring local lawyer Rachel Jones to be city attorney.
    The 7-0 vote of approval followed a 35-minute executive session while Jones and a handful of spectators waited for the Assembly to return to open session.

Rachel Jones. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

    Assembly members expressed congratulations and thanks to Jones for applying for the position, which has been vacant two and a half months.
    “Good luck and be careful what you ask for,” joked Thor Christianson, after thanking her for going through the hiring process.
    “I’m excited to get to work with you, I’m excited to have someone in house again instead of contract attorneys,” Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz said. “I’m excited to have you on board.”
    The Assembly’s selection of Jones came after two Zoom interviews over the last five weeks, and a meet-and-greet, in-person reception with the public this past Wednesday.
    The Assembly has been looking for a new city attorney since shortly after Brian Hanson gave notice early this year that he would retire June 30. The first recruitment process ended when the chosen finalist withdrew before her visit to Sitka. After a second round of applicants applied for the job, two, including Jones, were selected for second-round Zoom interviews. Jones was then selected for a final reception, to give community members a chance to meet and talk with her.
    In the absence of an on-site attorney since June 30, the city has been sending work to the Anchorage law firm Jermain Dunnagan & Owens. JDO attorney Michael Gatti has been the city’s outside counsel for many years.
    City human resources director Joshua Branthoover was directed by the Assembly to confer with Jones on an employment agreement, including salary (advertised range $135,000-$170,000), vacation days and first day of work. Jones told the Assembly she is available to start work in October.
Branthoover said he expects the final vote on hiring Jones will be at the regular meeting after an employment agreement is settled.
After the meeting, some Assembly members commented on their reasons for selecting Jones.
“She has the experience, she did exceptionally well in both interviews and the community meet and greet,” Kevin Mosher said. “We have heard a lot of positive things from people in town and the fact she lives in town is also a bonus. She’s familiar with this community, and cares about the community.”
“Having someone available on a daily basis in the city is invaluable for the employees and all the different departments,” Tim Pike said. “There are daily legal questions and it’s much easier and much more efficient to have someone here. They’re part of our community and understand it.”
“The help that Michael Gatti has given us has been instrumental in this time,” Eisenbeisz said. “However, I’m desirous of an in-person, in-house attorney. Michael Gatti will still be on call in case we need his help, but we can get great value for having someone ... where we can simply knock on their door and walk in. I also like seeing those dollars circulate throughout the community as opposed to going outside the community.”
Jones earned her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and holds a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Georgetown University.
She has done legal work for the city previously, as interim city attorney May 2016 through September 2017, and as public policy consultant for the city since January this year.
Her positions with the state Department of Law include Sitka magistrate judge and standing master from September 2017 to August 2018, and law clerk and deputy magistrate judge from September 2014 to September 2015, and January through August 2013.

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