Council launches search for new city attorney

The City of Lawton is launching its search for a new city attorney.

City Council members, without comment, directed City Manager John Ratliff this week to initiate the Request for Proposals (RFP) process to find an executive search services firm to identify and recruit candidates to replace former City Attorney John Andrew. Andrew, one of four city administrators who work directly for the City Council, submitted his letter of resignation Feb. 21, effective immediately, after council members spent more than two hours in executive session discussing his job.

City officials have not said why Andrew resigned after less than a year in the position, citing personnel confidentiality. Long-time Deputy City Attorney Tim Wilson was named acting city attorney until a replacement is found.

The RFP process is used to identify a firm that will be contracted for a specific task. In this case, that is attracting a “broad and highly qualified pool of applicants” to serve as city attorney. The process most recently was used to recruit Andrew and fill the city manager position, and typically means the firm will evaluate and rank candidates before they are brought to the council for interviews and a decision.

Under the City Charter, the city manager, city attorney, city clerk and municipal judge work for the council, meaning that body is responsible for hiring and firing them.

Andrew was hired by the council in April 2024 to replace John Ratliff, after Ratliff was named city manager after acting in that capacity with the departure of former City Manager Michael Cleghorn in March 2023.