Shakeup at Shreveport City Hall

A bit of a shakeup at city hall.  Assistant City Attorney Karen Strand resigns her post. Strand was recently told she was being assigned as Senior Risk Manager for the city. She has been serving as an advisor to the city council where she would assist in drafting ordinances and researching issues for council members.

Strand apparently did not want to accept this reassignment. She sent this letter to City Attorney Mekisha Creal this week:

Dear Ms. Creal,

Thank you for the “promotional” reassignment to become the Senior Risk Manager of the City’s Risk Management division. Although, I do believe, the original promotional reassignment has now been altered to reflect that I would retain my Assistant City Attorney title and merely “supervise” the Risk Management division. Nonetheless, upon further consideration, I am declining this reassignment and tendering my resignation. I wish the administration much success in locating an experienced and qualified person to fulfill the newly created position of Senior Risk Manager (or in the alternative the position of “supervisor”) – a very important role for the City. It has been my pleasure to serve, in a legal capacity, the various City departments, the staff, City Council as well as the administration. For the past three years, in my current role as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Shreveport, I have primarily worked, researched, and drafted ordinances and resolutions for the City Council members. I am extremely proud of the legal work product I have delivered to the City and have truly enjoyed my legal service to the City of Shreveport. It is with great enthusiasm I share with you that I am accepting a legal position in a Texas city attorney’s office that will afford me the promotion and salary commensurate with my knowledge and experience. Making the decision to leave Shreveport was initially a difficult one – but nonetheless a necessary decision to ensure my success and further development of my municipal law career. My last day of employment will be Monday, May 27, 2019. Please accept my resignation along with my appreciation for the opportunity to serve the City of Shreveport.

Respectfully, Karen Strand Assistant City Attorney

She copied the Mayor and City Council members. No word yet on who will replace Strand as the council's advisor.