Spokane City Council set to vote on mayor’s nomination of Ormsby as city attorney

The Spokane City Council is scheduled to vote Monday night on confirming former U.S. Attorney Michael Ormsby to head the city attorney’s office.

Mayor David Condon earlier this month named Ormsby, a Barack Obama appointee, his choice to permanently replace Nancy Isserlis, who resigned a year ago as a human resources investigation into the forced departure of former Police Chief Frank Straub was winding down. If approved, Ormsby will take office almost a year to the day after Isserlis announced her departure.

Mike Piccolo has been acting as city attorney since Isserlis stepped down. Condon’s previous pick to head the office, Laura McAloon, withdrew her name from consideration late last summer after critical council comments about her involvement in the release of the Straub investigative report.

Ormsby, who was himself forced out of office as part of President Donald Trump’s decision to fire existing federal attorneys appointed by his predecessor, has earned praise from City Council members across the political spectrum ahead of the planned confirmation vote. The panel will vote after public testimony at its regularly scheduled meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall.