Last week Guilford County Manager Mike Halford announced and immediately entered into retirement and, on Wednesday, July 2, another top area local government official announced an immediate retirement.
The Greensboro City Council put out the word on Wednesday that Greensboro City Attorney Chuck Watts is retiring, effective immediately.
The attorney came to the city six years ago after previously serving as general counsel for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said in a prepared statement upon the news:
“During his tenure, Mr. Watts was instrumental in leading the city through a number of significant challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and times of civil unrest. Chuck also restructured the legal office to modernize operations. We acknowledge his years of service and wish him well in his retirement.”
Watts stated, “I appreciate my years with the city and am proud of the contributions I have made during my time here. I’m confident the current legal staff will continue to function at the highest level in support of the city.”
The Greensboro City Council has the duty of hiring a new city attorney. In the coming days, the Greensboro City Council will announce who’ll serve in the interim capacity.
Being a city or county attorney is an extremely difficult job because you work for many bosses who often don’t see eye to eye but who all do want the attorney to see things their way.
In 2009 for instance, Guilford County government had six different county attorneys in one year.
Then, somewhat amazingly, former County Attorney Mark Payne was hired in October of 2009 and he lasted a dozen years in that position. Payne, who interestingly ate M&Ms of only some colors and avoided others, liked to joke after his first year that he’d been in that office longer than his six predecessors.
