The City of Dallas lost its city attorney five months ago and has reportedly not yet begun searching for a permanent replacement.
Former Dallas City Attorney Chris Caso announced his retirement on January 19 — a week before his scheduled performance review. His last day as a City of Dallas employee was February 28, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Prior to Caso’s retirement, his performance evaluation was postponed twice within five months. Council members did not publicly say why Caso’s review was repeatedly delayed.
Since February, Tammy Palomino, former assistant city attorney, has served as interim city attorney, receiving a salary of $303,848.
Despite the City of Dallas not having a permanent city attorney for five months, the City has not started its search to fill the vacancy, reported The Dallas Morning News. Officials have reportedly yet to interview candidates or even post a job opening.
Director of Communications Catherine Cuellar told the DMN that the City has not decided whether to search for Caso’s replacement internally or hire a recruitment agency to conduct an outside search. She said Mayor Johnson and the City Council will review potential search firms.
Neither the City of Dallas nor individual council members have said when they expect to appoint a new permanent city attorney.
In a statement to The Dallas Express, Cuellar said, “The City Attorney is appointed by the City Council, so while council is in recess and until council reconvenes and the Mayor appoints a new Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Affairs, no action is expected.”
The City Council’s summer recess began at the beginning of July — close to six months after Caso announced his departure.
Council Member Gay Donnell Willis told the DMN that she interviewed search firms in March alongside Council Member Jaime Resendez and then-Council Member Adam McGough but declined to share which firms were evaluated.
“I’d like to get the issue resolved,” she said, per the DMN, adding that she expects the City Council to determine how to move forward with the search during a closed session in August after they return from the summer recess.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the City of Dallas may be paying Caso $162,500 — six months’ salary — per a stipulation in his contract.
The City declined to confirm whether this payout was taking place.
