GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids city commissioners conducted public interviews Tuesday of the three finalists for city attorney.
Longtime city attorney Anita Hitchcock retired last September.
Citizens got a chance to submit questions to them at a public forum last night. The interviews were being livestreamed on Comcast channel 26, and shown on the city's Facebook and YouTube channels, as well. Each finalist was asked the same 14 questions.
First up to bat was Sarah Hartman, who is the director of legal affairs for the city. She said there are three highly qualified applicants for the city attorney position.
"But at the end of the day, I think that my unique background, my skill set lends me to be the best candidate for this role," Hartman told commissioners. "And I'm hoping that, today, you will leave here thinking that I am."
The second person to be interviewed Monday afternoon was municipal law attorney Matthew Cross. He said his experience as a partner in the CMDA law firm in Traverse City would lend itself well to the city attorney position in Grand Rapids.
"I think that's all very helpful in this position," he said. "And I understand from talking to Miss Hitchcock that the position may not necessarily be on the ground writing briefs, arguing motions like that. But I think it certainly helps to have that experience, so I'm speaking the same language of everyone in the law department."
Current interim city attorney Philip Strom was the last finalist interviewed Tuesday. He said he is ready to become the permanent city attorney.
"I've been in every city commission meeting I can think of since I started with the exception of one: when COVID was happening," he said. "I've been in top management. I've advised pretty much every department and board that you can think of. In those six years and the last seven months have been on-the-job training for this position."
Strom described his management style as leading by example.
"I've had almost any job that you can think of, from riding on the back of a garbage truck to pumping gas at a gas station," he said. "So, if you aren't willing to do the work then I don't think you can expect anybody else to do it. So, you have to know the work before you delegate it."
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