Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Ketchum city attorney resigns

Worst plans to head into private practice


By JON DUVAL
Express Staff Writer

Ben Worst

Ketchum City Attorney Ben Worst submitted his resignation notice to the city on Friday, June 6, with his last day in office scheduled for July 4.

Worst, who was appointed as the city's legal counsel in April 2004 by then-Mayor Ed Simon, said in an interview Tuesday that he intends to move back into private practice.

"I truly enjoyed working with the other employees here at the city," Worst said.

Due to the legal restrictions of attorney-client privilege, Worst, 40, said that he's unable to discuss the reasons for his departure or the challenges faced during his tenure.

Worst, who lives near Hemingway Elementary School, where his two children, ages 7 and 9, will attend next fall, said he will spend the summer with his parents on the Canadian side of Lake Erie.

"Ben's been a professional and made a decision that he felt was in his best interest," Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall said. "The city appreciates his service to Ketchum and I wish him the best in whatever he chooses to pursue."

Hall said he will recommend to the City Council that the city retain a law firm for legal services rather than replacing Worst with an in-house attorney.

According to Hall, this would give the city more flexibility and access to specialists in different sectors. Hall also said such an arrangement would allow the city to process more work simultaneously.

"Ninety percent of the cities in Idaho already outsource their legal work," Hall said.

Worst's resignation comes in the wake of the departure in January of City Administrator Ron LeBlanc, who moved to Colorado. Planning Director Harold Moniz, another senior city official, left City Hall in October 2007.




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