Gaithersburg council appoints Frank Johnson as city attorney; Johnson sworn in

The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council unanimously approved a resolution on March 3 appointing Frank Johnson as the city attorney and administered the state-required oath of office.

Mayor Ashman opened the remarks introducing the resolution and praised Johnson’s experience, saying he has “a more thorough knowledge of our city charter and code” and that Johnson “has earned the trust and respect of senior staff, his department colleagues, and our elected body.” The council then moved and seconded the appointment; members voted in favor by voice vote and the mayor invited Johnson to be sworn in.

The appointment follows an 11-year tenure in the city attorney’s office and a period in which Johnson served as acting city attorney after the departure of the previous city attorney. Johnson accepted the council’s action and, when sworn in, thanked the council and those who work with him, telling the council, “You honor me tremendously.”

The mayor administered the statutory swearing-in language, which included an affirmation to “support the Constitution and laws thereof” and to execute the office “according to the Gaithersburg City Charter and Code.” Johnson asked family and members of the city legal team to stand with him for photographs after the oath.

City Manager Tanisha Bridal and multiple council members offered public congratulations. Bridal noted that Johnson chaired the employee recognition committee and thanked him for leadership; others on the dais described his state-level training work on open meetings and ethics.

No formal vote tally naming individual votes was recorded in the meeting minutes; the council indicated unanimous approval by voice vote and the mayor noted the appointment carried.

The council did not place any conditions on the appointment at the meeting. The swearing-in completed the formal appointment process.