Greensboro’s new top attorney is no stranger to the courtroom – or to public service.
On Tuesday, July 8, the Greensboro City Council voted unanimously to appoint Deputy City Attorney Lora Cubbage as the next city attorney.
Cubbage, who joined the City Attorney’s Office only four months ago, will now take the reins as the head of the legal department, bringing with her a lengthy resume that includes a wide range of legal experience: She’s had stints as a prosecutor, judge, and assistant attorney general.
“I am honored to have the confidence of the City Council and I’m ready to serve in this new leadership role,” Cubbage said after the vote. “I’m committed to fostering transparency, integrity and accountability in city governance and municipal law, while supporting my team and senior leadership.”
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan praised the appointment and said the city is in good legal hands.
“Ms. Cubbage has an impressive track record as an attorney and former superior court judge,” Vaughan said. “She exhibits the leadership skills required to manage the City Attorney’s Office and the community will benefit from her legal acumen and commitment to public service.”
Before working for the City of Greensboro, Cubbage served as an assistant district attorney in Guilford County and as an assistant attorney general for the North Carolina Department of Justice.
She was later appointed to the bench – first as a district court judge, and, in 2018, as a North Carolina Superior Court judge by then-Governor Roy Cooper.
Most recently, in April of this year, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein honored her with The Order of the Longleaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian award.
Cubbage is a graduate of the UNC School of Law and North Carolina A&T State University.
As deputy city attorney, she handled legal matters for the city’s public safety departments and led lobbying efforts on behalf of Greensboro.
Now she’ll lead the city’s entire legal department.
She is taking the place of former Greensboro City Attorney Chuck Watts who retired suddenly just over a week ago.
At that time, Vaughan said in a prepared statement: “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 at the time of his retirement, “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.”
Cubbage is hoping to see the department functioning at a high level under her watch.
No surprises here.
Regarding the new Greensboro attorney, SO WHAT??
How does she benefit the citizens. This seems more like a political endorsement than a statement of benefits.
Keeping such a key role ‘in the family’ doesn’t seem wise given the abrupt resignation of the two lost senior people leading the county for assumably nefarious reasons.
Well, genius Chris, Cubbage was only brought on board about four months ago. Rikisha Williams, a city attorney under Cubbage, either quit or got canned almost immediately. Then Watts goes a few short months later, and supposedly a bunch of the other people in that shop are on the hook as we speak. Seems to me that Cubbage was brought in to clean house. She did, and this is her reward. Well deserved, in my opinion, if she got rid of obvious corruption or just incompetence. And nothing makes me madder than wasting my tax money on a “national search” only to end up settling on the local candidate anyway. I actually appreciate the city deciding not to waste my tax money for once. Maybe things are turning around in the old Boro. Not for Chris though, still dumb.
Cubbage earned that job and has actual integrity. The other attorneys need to be scared.
The family is the family and this family is long corrupted. But you be you
By that thinking, the next person they hire, even after day 1, will be “the family”. Such flawed thinking but that’s not shocking from Dummy. She was hired to clean house, and she has.
You think hiring from outside is considered family the same as promoting from within. Weird.
Ok, dummy. I will break this down as if you were a child. You said she was an “in the family” promotion, despite the fact that she was only hired a few months ago from the outside, AKA not “in the family”. She was hired for the express purpose of cleaning house. Most likely with the promise at that time that she would take the role once the corruption was rooted out.
You wanted someone from outside to get the spot. That is exactly what happened, but it happened four months ago. They just didn’t bother to tell you their plan and get your permission first. So dumb, man.
Chris did you se the video today of the ICE agents raid with a legal signed warrant on the pot farm in California. The ILLEGALS were attacking the ICE with bottles and rocks. Guess what the agents found Chris, over 10 unaccompanied minors working on that pot farm and YOU want to continue to support this nonsense. Tell me you don’t
And this is out of your storyline
“I’ll bet you won’t “ and don’t bring January 6th into this. That’s not a part of this story
He’s crafting an AI generated response. Stand by.
Only morons think research is a bad idea. I fully get it ruins your ‘i thunk it so it mus be troo’ approach to topics but you be you.
Plugging talking points into an AI chatbot and letting it spit them back out at you is not research.
Cherry picking actions so you can ignore the police a state tactics of ICE is a sign that America is dying at the hands of conservatives. Just today the head of ICE claimed he could ignore the fourth amendment and detain anyone strictly based on appearance.
And lets please not ignore Trump threatening to strip citizenship of US citizens because they have different political views then he does.
But you go ahead and look at a one-off about crooked people being busted and ignore the destruction of the Constitution of the United States.
So you did everything but say you don’t support ICE and their lawful actions and you support the actions of the ILLEGALS just as I knew you would
Maybe I’ll call Uncle Donald and get him started on revoking your citizenship Watch out for the Black Government vehicles coming to your sanctuary farm
Good Lord, Fox 8 beat you to SBI investigating Matheny and now Watts?? Bought and paid for.
I just want to take a moment to recognize and honor Lora Cubbage a powerful, intelligent, and beautiful woman of color who is making history and breaking barriers. Seeing her in this position fills me with so much pride. She is not only a shining example of grace and professionalism, but also a reflection of strength, perseverance, and excellence.
It means so much to witness a woman of color rise with dignity and purpose in spaces where we have long been underrepresented. Lora Cubbage stands as a role model not just because of her title, but because of the way she carries herself with integrity, confidence, and a deep sense of justice.
I am proud. I am inspired. And I celebrate her.
Anita Washington
A significant of Guilford County Government is black, so what? We are interested in quality not color. Martin Luther King said the same thing. Our government is doing what is best for it and not necessarily us.
Who was Marin Luther King ?
Is this the same Lora Cubbage who was rejected by her fellow Democrats in the last primary? That Lora Cubbage?
Maybe the Democrats rejected her because they know she will do the right thing.
I have no idea what your comment means. Do you care to elaborate?
Hi Anita
While we certainly wish Ms. Cubbage a long and successful career here serving the City of Greensboro, we should note however, that she is not the first person of color nor woman of color to hold this position. The City of Greensboro has a long tradition of being an equal opportunity employer. African Americans have been well represented here in our local government for the last 30 years.
We wish our new City Attorney all the best.
Maybe you just put your finger on what is wrong with Greensboro for the last 30 years.
I’ll be careful here…while there have been many many upstanding people of color leading municipal and county governments over the past 30 years, the sheer number of American cities that are now in serious decline and that are led by Democratic women of color are certainly noteable. It is more about character and integrity in my opinion. White politicians greased the Skids of Government for 200 years but that is no excuse. People need to do better if they expect to be perceived as servant leaders for the “whole community” of citizens and not using their positions of power to serve their own misguided self interest or crusade against past injustices. Ms. Washington’s post may have been appropriate in 1977 but not today. On the flip side we conservatives can’t turn a blind eye when billionaires and real estate developers influence municipal spending and projects just because they are white.
Joe, the term is affirmative action not equal opportunity and I believe the progressive socialist prefer the term equity nowadays. I for one do not want any Ka filled because someone is white, black brown red yellow or anything other than qualified or competent.
MLK
I dont disagree??? I was politely pointing out to Ms. Washington that the color barrier was broken 30 years ago here.
I agree with most of your posting, however I feel the need to remind you of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King-from his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, is: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Did I miss understand your posting to judge Lora Cubbage by color and not actions, morals, and inner qualities rather than their physical appearance or racial background?
If so I apologize.
My last comment is directed to Ms. Anita Ann Washington posting, not your article Scott. I should have clarified same in my original posting. My mistake.
I don’t know Ms. Cabbage but more power to her if the positive comments I’ve read here are accurate. When she’s done with the city legal department could she look into a few councilmembers?
Peter, I believe both “Don” and “DTF” are, or were, involved in law enforcement so they probably know what they’re talking about with regard to Cubbage. They both speak highly of her, so that’s good enough for me.
And of course, it’s likely that “Don” and “DTF” are one and the same person.
I am not DTF. I barely have enough time to manage my own personality, certainly not two. Just because DTF and I agree most of the time doesn’t mean we are the same person. Also, not a cop, just know a guy.
Okay, okay. You echo each other’s opinions, your “handles” are compatible, and the other day you both posted messages in different Rhino stories within minutes of each other.
Yeah, you could be different people, but you can see how the coincidences suggest otherwise.
Austin is a ‘I thunk it so it mus be troo’ as evidence or facts or expert sources have no value to him.
Don’t be like Austin.
Uh oh, Austin. You and Chris posted in the same article, and pretty close together in time. I wonder….. Hahahah!
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TWO HOURS AND EIGHT MINUTES apart, buddy.
Try again.
Pathetic.
You can do better than this.
It’s a joke man. Relax.
Okay.
What ye votes for, therefore ye shall get.
Don I’m beginning to think Austin and Chris may be related. They both seem to get a little testy over nothing
“What you have here is a whole lot of nuthin.”
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At least I don’t take cheap shots against people who disagree.
Well you kinda do that to Chris occasionally. On the other side you seem to be carrying a big chip on your shoulder I mean who counts or cares about hours and minutes especially on this forum. I’m beginning to think you may have a few loose screws my friend.
Why are you fixated with me? Maybe I should be flattered.
Miller has you nailed : you have nothing.
Try to get over me, buddy.