Attorney Brian Hanson has applied to the city attorney position full time. He is now the top candidate for the job, after Denver-based attorney Carey Gagnon withdrew her application last week.
Hanson has been the interim city attorney since May. He first applied for the position on part-time basis, but after a few months working with staff in the legal department, says he had a change of heart. “That’s a big part of my decision change is the pleasant surprise – it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was for me – of the great people down there,” Hanson told KCAW.
“In addition, I learned that I was a little overconfident to do it on a part -time basis. I know that’s not what the Assembly wants. So I had to dig deep and think a lot. It’s been a really personal journey about what I want to do for the rest of my work career. And I’ve come to this conclusion that I want to work for the city on a full-time basis. Frankly, I’m invigorated by it,” Hanson said.
Hanson initially applied to do the position 16 to 20 hours a week, for an annual contract of $92,000. He’s now offering to work full-time. The last city attorney’s salary was $123,000 plus benefits. If selected, Hanson says he will ask for a period of time to wind down cases with his private practice, Brian Hanson Attorney at Law LLC.
Another factor in his decision was the support of fellow Sitkans. “I couldn’t go anywhere in the community without being stopped by community members encouraging me about applying for the job. It was almost overwhelming. It was part of why I changed my mind. I had so much family, friend, and community support,” Hanson said.
Mayor Mim McConnell said she’s heard good reports from city staff about working with Hanson this summer. “He’s been an attorney for the community for a long time. He’s well established and has a successful practice and that speaks well for him,” McConnell said.
The Assembly held a special meeting on Wednesday (08-24-16) evening to consider Hanson’s offer. After 20 minutes in executive session, they unanimously voted to set up an interview with him for Tuesday, September 6th at 5 p.m. at the Sealing Cove Business Center. That interview is open to the public.
McConnell added that while the Assembly is focusing on Hanson, the other second-round applicants are still under consideration. They include local attorney Rachel Jones, Pennsylvania-based attorney Eugene F. Hickey, and Officer Kevin Carlisle, who serves on the legal affairs team for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The Assembly conducted hour-long interviews with all of them, including Gagnon and Hanson, on Saturday, August 20th.
