CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — City Attorney Miles Risley is set to retire after more than a decade with the city, following a resignation announcement tied to tensions at City Hall.
Risley has been involved in several high-profile legal matters, including the ongoing effort to remove Mayor Paulette Guajardo from office.
In a memo issued today, Risley wrote that divisions among council members and personal attacks stemming from removal actions had affected his ability to effectively perform his duties as city attorney.
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He also stated that while he has attempted to avoid political disputes, doing so at the city level has become impossible.
City council members weighed in on Risley’s departure and what it signals about the current state of City Hall.
“My first thought is that we have a toxic, dysfunctional environment at City Hall at the council level. This is the third executive-level to leave the city in the last, what, 10 months,” said council member Mark Scott.
“There’s not a clear direction or vision that the council has,” said council member Roland Barrera. “We’re obviously divided, and it makes it very difficult to work with. Two individuals are interim assistant city managers, so those positions haven’t been filled. And that has been basically since this council has come on board.”
Risley is set to retire August 2.
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