Monthly Archives: December 2016
Love it… Hate it… An Attorney’s Perspective
As 2016 draws to a close, I’m reflecting on what I love and hate, respectively, about being an attorney. Let’s start with the good part of this story: what I love about being an attorney. As many of you know, I spend most of my time practicing municipal law. I am a City Attorney,… Read More »
Do Christmas Doggies Violate Deed Restrictions?
Christmas is just around the corner, and many families will be opting for that classic and borderline clichéd gift-that-keeps-on-giving: a dog. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; even my first family dog was a Christmas gift. So if you’re anticipating getting or giving a dog this year—or even if you already have a… Read More »
How Should a Texas Home Rule City Fill a Vacancy on City Council?
City attorneys are called upon to guide city councils are legal procedures and processes for host of municipal actions, including how to fill a vacancy on city council. In Texas, home rule cities look to their charters as well as Texas law for the proper steps. Various issues that could arise if the City… Read More »
How to Count a Majority for Voting
“How do we know its majority rule in your city?” asked an assistant attorney general reviewing a bond application for a city I represented. What? You mean are we a democracy? I asked. Yes, prove it, the AG said. How do you know white is white or one plus one equals two? How do you prove a… Read More »