At the end of last week, the group searching for the city’s top attorney had received two submitted resumes.
By the end of today, they should have at least one more.
Retired 4th Circuit Judge Aaron Bowden plans to formally submit his resume, said Michael Tanner, a member of the General Counsel Review committee.
Bowden retired in 2009 after more than 20 years on the bench.
He will join current General Counsel Jason Gabriel and GrayRobinson attorney Patrick Krechowski. The latter also serves of counsel to the city of Neptune Beach.
The review committee met Friday afternoon to potentially name finalists for the position and set up interviews this week.
It was decided both Gabriel and Krechowski deserved an interview.
Tanner said he wanted to reach out to two people he’d spoken to about the position before ruling them out.
After a conversation later Friday, Tanner said Bowden planned to formally submit. Tanner declined to name the other potential candidiate, as he wasn’t able to reach the person.
One possibility who decided to not pursue the position was Charles Trippe, a partner at Mosley Prichard Parrish Knight & Jones along with being general counsel to Gov. Rick Scott in 2011-12. The group vaguely discussed Trippe, with chair John Delaney calling him a “great talent” and the reasoning behind him not pursuing the job as being “complicated.”
“As you know, we were all very high on that option,” said Delaney.
Trippe’s name was the only one specifically mentioned during the meeting, outside of Gabriel and Krechowski.
Gabriel and Krechowski also came with praise. Gabriel received positive reviews from some City Council members and Mayor Lenny Curry, said Delaney. Krechowski was held in high regard by the Neptune Beach mayor and a city councilor.
The application process isn’t closed.
Attorneys interested are still able to apply by contacting Delaney.
He said recruiting for the position can be tough. Originally, he said, consolidation considered the position more for an attorney to take a couple of years away from private practice to serve. As law became more specialized and complex, though, it made sense for a longer-term top attorney to be in place.
Plus, the position often is a pay cut. It ranges from $150,000-$250,000, but Delaney said someone with the same qualifications in the private sector could earn double that amount. And, the right person typically isn’t someone who has just a decade or so of experience, he said.
The committee will briefly meet Wednesday morning to review any other applicants and will set up interviews with the candidates Thursday afternoon.
Whomever the group selects must be approved by Curry and council.
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