Surprise council accepts city attorney Robert Wingo's resignation; approves remote work through March

The Surprise City Council unanimously accepted the resignation of city attorney Robert Wingo during a special meeting on Jan. 14, 2025, and later authorized him to work remotely for the remainder of his contract, which runs through March 2, 2025. Council members also directed the city manager to begin recruitment for an interim or replacement city attorney but took no appointment action.

The resignation vote came after the council read Item 1 on the special agenda. Following two public comments criticizing Wingo's tenure, Council members voted “yes” on a motion to accept the resignation. “I move to accept the resignation of city attorney Robert Wingo,” a councilmember said; the clerk later announced, “It's a unanimous yes vote, Mayor.”

The resignation drew public remarks from two residents. Quintus Schulzka, a resident of the Sierra Montana neighborhood, urged the council to use fair hiring practices and consider a third-party search for the next city attorney. “I would like you to give careful thought, you know, to consider fair hiring practices in doing so,” Schulzka said.

Rebecca Massey, who identified herself as a resident of the North Copper Canyon Division, criticized Wingo’s performance and said the resignation was overdue. “This man sat in the same chambers and watched as I was forcibly removed, handcuffed, assaulted, and arrested,” Massey said, and urged that Wingo forfeit further compensation. Massey also alleged Wingo had violated the Arizona Supreme Court's rules of professional conduct and portions of his contract, though she said the contracts were not attached to that night's agenda and therefore could not be verified at the meeting.

Item 2 on the agenda addressed the city attorney’s contract. The council moved into executive session for legal advice on Items 2 and 3, then reconvened and approved a motion to set parameters for the remaining contract period and to allow Wingo to work remotely for the remainder of his contract. The council stated the contract runs through March 2, 2025; the motion to permit remote work was passed by unanimous vote.

On Item 3, concerning appointment of an interim city attorney, council discussion resulted in direction to the city manager to begin the recruitment process. Councilmember remarks included a proposal to “give our city manager direction to start the recruitment process,” and when asked directly, the person the council addressed as Bob confirmed he would “move diligently forward” with recruitment. The council recorded no formal appointment or vote on an interim attorney at the meeting.

No budgetary figures, contract attachments, or personnel separation terms were provided on the agenda at the meeting, and the council did not specify whether any compensation adjustments or forfeiture requests (as urged by a public speaker) would be pursued. The actions taken were limited to accepting the resignation, approving remote work through the contract end date, and instructing the city manager to initiate recruitment.

Looking ahead, the council’s next steps are to conduct a recruitment for an interim or replacement city attorney and to address any contract or compensation matters that may arise from legal counsel’s review or further staff recommendations.