David Whitaker resigns as city attorney

The Northwest Arkansas Times reports:
Whitaker resigns post in city attorney’s office
By Robin Mero
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville Assistant City Attorney David J. Whitaker resigned his position effective Friday.

Whitaker said he can’t yet speak about his next endeavor but it involves a new opportunity in public service. He will say more in early October and plans to remain in Fayetteville.

Whitaker is currently Washington County chairman of the Democratic Central Committee and state chairman of the Democratic Veterans Caucus.

He’s been with the city more than eight years and said the job has been incredible.

In a letter submitted last week to City Attorney Kit Williams, Whitaker said he moves on with “no small measure of sadness or regret. ... Iwant to thank you again for the opportunity to serve the citizens of the finest city in the world, and for the chance to grow both personally and professionally these past eight and a half years.”

A reception for Whitaker is planned at 3 p.m. Friday at City Hall.

Whitaker lived in Georgia andVirginia before coming to Northwest Arkansas in 1996 for law school. He was age 35 then and had served six years with the U.S. Air Force.

Whitaker joined the city immediately after Williams took his elected office, as did their assistant, Judy Housley.

Williams said Whitaker was a good choice, in part for his life experience.

”He brought a great wealth of experience,knowledge of how people should be treated and common sense to the job,” Williams said. “I’m sorry to see him and his steady hand leave.”

Before working for the city, he was director of the Washington County Domestic Violence Task Force, under a U.S. Department of Justice grant through the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office. That grant ended in 2000, and Whitaker for a short time took private cases and appointed work with the state Public Defender Commission.

An advertisement forthe city’s assistant attorney position was published over the past weekend. Williams said he’s looking for at least one year’s experience, along with an Arkansas law license, and the salary begins at $61,000.

The assistant city attorney represents the board of adjustments, reviews agenda requests and contracts, and writes resolutions. The deputy also responds to research requests on wide-ranging topics and handles bankruptcy claims and releases for damage when the city pays compensation.

News, Pages 1, 7 on 09/22/2009