City of Ceres Appoints Churchwell White LLP to Act as City Attorney

SACRAMENTO, May 13, 2015 – Ceres City Council has announced that Tom Hallinan has been appointed City Attorney, effective immediately. Hallinan, an attorney with Churchwell White LLP, is the successor to Michael Lyions who served as City Attorney for over 40 years. Douglas White, Managing Partner, and Nubia Goldstein, of Churchwell White LLP, will each serve as Deputy City Attorney. Churchwell White LLP was appointed Interim City Attorney in December of 2014.

“As a resident of Ceres, Tom will bring a unique perspective to his approach as City Attorney which will be invaluable to us” said Toby Wells, City Manager. “Working on behalf of the city and residents of Ceres is something I look forward to with great enthusiasm. I am committed to assisting the city council and city manager in their efforts to advance the city’s vision,” said Hallinan.

Hallinan currently represents the cities of Patterson, Oakdale, Riverbank and Newman. He has also served as General Counsel to each of those cities former Redevelopment Agencies. By virtue of his service as a Community College Trustee, Hallinan was appointed by the State Chancellor of the California Community College system to the Stanislaus County-Ceres Oversight Board; and the City of Ceres Oversight Board where he serves as Vice-Chair. A 20-year member of the Central Valley City Attorney’s Association, Hallinan is also active in the League of California Cities’ City Attorney Department where he has served as the Department’s representative to the Annual Conference Planning Committee on the Transportation, Communication and Public Works Policy Committee. He was recently appointed as the Central Valley representative to the League’s Legal Advocacy Committee.

The City of Ceres is located in the central San Joaquin Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento and 95 miles east of San Francisco, in the heart of Stanislaus County. Ceres is in one of the Central Valley’s richest and most diverse agricultural areas and is the home of the new $14 million County Agriculture Center. Even the name “Ceres” originates from the Roman goddess of agriculture.

Based in the state capital of Sacramento, Churchwell White LLP has a particular focus on sound public policy. We are recognized for our experience inside and outside government and for delivering the highest quality legal advice and service. Collaboration and a team approach are characteristics we value in our people. This is evident in the way our lawyers partner with our clients and interact with public officials.

On the web at www.whitebrennerllp.com.