GC Cindy Laquidara leaving Jacksonville City Hall.

[Cheshire Cat]

This just out.  No further details yet.  General Counsel Cindy Laquidara is leaving City Hall, effective July 1. She will join Akerman, which has 20 law offices across the country. (per Jax Daily Record) 

[Cheshire Cat]

Some may remember the hubbub over whether or not Laquidara was a legal hire.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/local-group-announces-lawsuit-against-cindy-laquidara/21950236


JACKSONVILLE, Fla -
In a rare Sunday afternoon press conference, a local group announced a lawsuit against Jacksonville's legal expert.

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Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County believe Cindy Laquidara is not rightfully the city's general counsel.

John Winkler, president of Concerned Taxpayers, insists it's a call to follow protocol and not an attack on a political adversary.

Laquidara served as interim general counsel when Rick Mullaney left the office in 2010. She stayed in office when Mayor Alvin Brown took over two years ago - and that's where Winkler says there's a procedural problem. The city's standard for recommendation and confirmation was not followed, in Winkler's opinion.

"We believe we really don't have any choice but to ask the courts to overturn this ruling on her part. The charter was not followed in her appointment, and there is a process that needs to be followed in order to appoint a general counsel," Winkler said.

(click link above for full story)

[Cheshire Cat]

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/04/23/cindy-laquidara-leaving-city-employ-joining.html

Cindy Laquidara leaving city employ, joining Akerman Senterfitt
laquidara

Jacksonville General Counsel Cindy Laquidara will be leaving the city of Jacksonville as of July 1 to join the Akerman Senterfitt law firm.
Laquidara has been with the city for years. She planned to resign in 2011 and return to private practice, but Mayor Alvin Brown asked her to stay.
The move comes after some contentious times with the City Council, with legislation proposed — but not passed — that asked for her resignation.
Check back for more on this breaking story.

[Cheshire Cat]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Cindy Laquidara announced in a news conference Wednesday afternoon she is resigning as General Counsel from the City of Jacksonville.

Laquidara also announced in the news conference she is going to a private law firm.

Mayor Alvin Brown said in the news conference that Laquidara is a "team player for taxpayers."

She's been General Counsel since July 2010.

As we've reported, Laquidara's tenure has been controversial. 

One move caused a firestorm between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012.  Laquidara sent a letter to the Jaguars saying the lease at EverBank Field was in default.

Just last year, the group, Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, wanted Cindy Laquidara to prove she was properly appointed and confirmed under the city charter.  The group filed a lawsuit which was later dismissed.

In addition to serving as General Council for the city of Jacksonville, she also advises JEA, Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the City Council and the Mayor's Office according to her profile on the city of Jacksonville website.

She is board certified in by the Florida Bar in city, county, and government law.

Laquidara's last day is July 1.
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/General-Counsel-Cindy-Laquidara-to-resign/lFNhHOpt4U-H12QZpiExtw.cspx

[Cheshire Cat]

Another article on a previous controversy.

http://archive.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/317017/483/Council-turns-up-heat-on-citys-General-Counsel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- City council members are turning up the heat, questioning how the city's chief attorney, Cindy Laquidara, is handling her job.

In a morning meeting at city hall, council members discussed their frustrations, with some suggesting Laquidara should step aside.

"It needs to be, as intended, an independent position," said Bill Gulliford, upcoming city council president.

Council members expressed their displeasure with the work of Laquidara, citing her interpretation of the Jacksonville Jaguars' stadium lease a year ago. That ended with the General Counsel sending an apology to the team.

Other issues focused on the direction that city took in handling its sports/entertainment contract that was handled by the Mayor's office. The city council believed it should have some input, but was rebuffed by the General Counsel's office.

http://archive.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/317017/483/Council-turns-up-heat-on-citys-General-Counsel

[strider]

What I will remember about Cindy Laquidara's time in the Office of General Council the most is sitting in City Council chambers some years ago with the council about to call for a vote on an ordinance that would have put hundreds of a disabled class of people out of their homes and she stood up, ran up to the podium and in a polite and lawyerly way said WTF! Stop! And the council did and later came to a decent compromise. For that, I will always thank her. 

I, for one, wish her luck in the new direction her career is taking.

Now, who is going to replace her?  Jason teal?

[Cheshire Cat]

What I will remember about Cindy Laquidara's time in the Office of General Council the most is sitting in City Council chambers some years ago with the council about to call for a vote on an ordinance that would have put hundreds of a disabled class of people out of their homes and she stood up, ran up to the podium and in a polite and lawyerly way said WTF! Stop! And the council did and later came to a decent compromise. For that, I will always thank her. 

I, for one, wish her luck in the new direction her career is taking.

Now, who is going to replace her?  Jason teal?

No word on that buy my guess is that have someone already lined up and that may be someone who has worked at city hall before.  That could be a good or bad thing.  Will have to wait and see.

[sheclown]

What I will remember about Cindy Laquidara's time in the Office of General Council the most is sitting in City Council chambers some years ago with the council about to call for a vote on an ordinance that would have put hundreds of a disabled class of people out of their homes and she stood up, ran up to the podium and in a polite and lawyerly way said WTF! Stop! And the council did and later came to a decent compromise. For that, I will always thank her. 

I, for one, wish her luck in the new direction her career is taking.

Now, who is going to replace her?  Jason teal?

You forgot the high heels -- that's what I remember!  I thought "how can she run down the aisle in those high heels?"

Me too Strider, me too.  She stopped it in the nick of time.

[Cheshire Cat]

Cindy was much more independent in her thinking and actions when she was one member of the GC.  That ability was hindered when she was put in the political hot seat as the lead attorney for the city under a mayor who really had no idea about protocol, which is why we saw the fluff up over the letter to the Jags and Shad Khan. 

[Steve]

I'll always remember how fast she made it to the podium to speak to Don Redman when he asked Parvez Ahmed to "pray to his God".

[Cheshire Cat]

I'll always remember how fast she made it to the podium to speak to Don Redman when he asked Parvez Ahmed to "pray to his God".

That was a special moment.  lol

[spuwho]

Isn't she the one who shipped that letter off to Lamping on the Jags saying they were in breach of their municipal agreement?

[Cheshire Cat]

Isn't she the one who shipped that letter off to Lamping on the Jags saying they were in breach of their municipal agreement?

Yes, there are links in this thread to that incident. She sent the letter at the instructions of Mayor Alvin Brown.