Cindy Laquidara will continue to serve as Jacksonville general counsel, and the City said she technically never left the position despite the appointment of an acting general counsel after Laquidara’s last day in the office Sept. 30.
Mayor Alvin Brown made the announcement in a hastily called news conference Monday with Laquidara at his side.
“I realized the best attorney to serve our City as general counsel was the person already serving in that role,” Brown said. “I am very grateful for her continued willingness to serve.”
Laquidara was reappointed general counsel in late June before Brown took office July 1. The term coincides with the four-year term of the mayor, but she was to serve throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, and begin practice in the private sector at Foley & Lardner.
According to a letter from Laquidara dated Sept. 29, she began a two-week vacation beginning noon Sept. 30 and was on leave until her resignation was to take effect midnight Monday.
At the news conference Monday, Brown said Laquidara’s service was extended.
Brown said he declined to accept her resignation and instead asked her to continue her work for the City and she accepted.
“I got a firsthand experience of how the mayor sells Jacksonville and he was nothing if not persistent,” Laquidara said Monday.
Senior Assistant General Counsel Mary Jarrett was named acting general counsel Sept. 30, the same day Laquidara’s vacation and leave began. Brown said he appreciated Jarrett’s work as acting general counsel and excellent service in the role.
Jarrett will remain with the general counsel’s office in her prior role, Chris Hand, Brown’s chief of staff, said Monday.
Since Laquidara never officially left the City, there is no need for Brown to form a five-attorney selection committee to recommend candidates as stated in the City Charter.
“I’m just excited to get back to work for the best client in the world and appreciate the opportunity to do so,” Laquidara said.
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