Lawton city attorney resigns

Lawton City Attorney John Andrew resigned Friday, less than a year after taking the position.

City Council members accepted Andrew’s letter of resignation after spending almost three hours in executive session during a special meeting that also was to have included discussions on amendments to the city charter. Friday’s agenda included a review of the employment of Andrew, to include a review of his performance, and when the council returned to open session, they voted unanimously to accept his resignation, effective immediately.

That acceptance came with three months of severance pay, and payment for any unused vacation time.

Long-time Deputy City Attorney Tim Wilson was named acting city attorney until a replacement is found. Mayor Stan Booker said he expects that process to begin next week, with an agenda item planned for Tuesday’s regular meeting that would allow the city to begin advertising the position.

City officials declined to comment on the resignation and said they could not release the letter of resignation because it falls under personnel. The city attorney is one of four employees who work for the City Council, meaning they control hiring and firing.

Andrew was named city attorney in late April 2024, replacing then-City Attorney John Ratliff. Ratliff, in turn, had been working as interim city manager as the council searched for a replacement for former City Manager Michael Cleghorn, who resigned in 2023.

Andrew had been city attorney for Ponca City, and also had been a signals intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army, leaving active duty in 1988 but later joining the Army National Guard. He had worked for Ponca City since 2017, first as assistant city attorney then city attorney.