Item 5 of Tampa City Council’s agenda this week the mayor announces the retirement of City Attorney Andrea Zelman. Zelman assumed the role three years ago after serving as Deputy City Attorney, replacing Gina Grimes who left due to residency requirements that have since been removed from the Charter. In her place, Mayor Jane Castor has nominated Scott I. Steady to be the next City Attorney.
Steady’s resume notes until recently he represented the city’s Code Enforcement Magistrates and currently represents the Public Nuisance Abatement Board. He also serve as a Special Magistrate for Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (FLUDRA) on disputes regarding land use matters. His biography at his current firm notes “He has extensive experience in the resolution of land use, local government, and environmental issues.”
The position of the City Attorney has been contentious as the debate of who they represent has been the underlying issue in many clashes between council and the mayor. The City Attorney isn’t supposed to be the mayor’s attorney or council’s attorney, but to represent the best interests of the municipality of Tampa. While on the city’s organization chart there’s a note the attorneys office also reports to city council—that relationship isn’t represented visually.
If comments from Council member Bill Carlson are any indication, the role of the City Attorney will be a focus of discussion in next year’s Charter mandated Charter Review. All eyes will be on how Council reacts to this nomination and if they’ll be prepared to approve it the last meeting before the holidays. Zelman’s intent is to retire in January with an effective date of the nomination January 5, 2026.
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