Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 2:04 p.m.
City Attorney Mike Ormsby, who has been with the City more than five years as part of two administrations, announced he will be retiring next month and continue on in a reduced capacity to oversee risk management into at least August.
Ormsby’s last day as City Attorney will be June 10. He has also been leading the City’s risk management activities and will shift to a part-time schedule to oversee the transition of that work, which includes completing the placement of the Insurance Portfolio of the City for next year.
“Mike grew up in Spokane and has served the community passionately and tirelessly as a school board member, U.S. Attorney, and, finally, as City Attorney,” Mayor Nadine Woodward said. “He is a true professional whose experience and expertise has been invaluable to the City.”
An interim city attorney is expected to be in place prior to Ormsby’s departure to allow for seamless transition of the job.
Ormsby assumed risk management duties during staffing transitions prior to Woodward taking office. He plans to continue in that part-time capacity this summer to ensure continuity of those duties.
During Ormsby’s tenure, the City Attorney’s Office has worked to efficiently resolve litigation against the organization and participated in obtaining a multi-million water contamination settlement as part of a class action with 12 other governmental agencies against Monsanto Company, Pharmacia, LLC and Solutia, Inc. among numerous other accomplishments. He has also been part of the labor-management team that has negotiated several critical labor contracts.
Ormsby came to the City after serving as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington under President Obama. He is a graduate of North Central High School and Gonzaga University as an undergraduate and law student, and was the youngest member elected to the Spokane Public Schools board at 18.
