Tom Gibson has served as Clearlake’s city attorney for the past two years. He is a partner in the Sacramento-based law firm Best, Best and Krieger, which specializes in public law.
However, Gibson is leaving the firm to take a job with the state, City Administrator Dale Neiman reported in open session Thursday evening.
“Personally I’m very sorry to see Tom leave,” said Neiman. “He’s by far the best city attorney I’ve worked with.”
The council met in closed session at 5:15 p.m., during which they discussed appointing a new city attorney.
Neiman reported that the recommendation from closed session was to appoint another Best, Best and Krieger partner, Malathy Subramanian, to succeed Gibson.
Subramanian has been the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency’s general counsel, and Neiman said she has worked with the council before.
Councilmember Joyce Overton confirmed that, saying she thought Subramanian was a very good attorney.
According to her biography on the Best, Best and Krieger Web site, Subramanian also is the City of Lafayette's attorney, and serves as general council to the Merced County Local Area Formation Commission, the Lafayette Redevelopment Agency and the East Palo Alto Sanitary District.
The council approved Subramanian’s appointment 5-0.
Mayor Curt Giambruno presented Gibson with a proclamation thanking him for his service.
Gibson thanked the city for the proclamation. “We’ve definitely had some interesting times over the last two years.”
Overton later thanked Gibson for his help during her tenure as mayor in 2006.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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