Waco council to consider appointment of Kristen Hamilton Karim as city attorney

The Waco City Council on Feb. 4 was presented a resolution to appoint Kristen Hamilton Karim as the city's next city attorney, City Manager Bradley Ford said at a work session.

The appointment resolution, identified on the council agenda as Resolution 2025-081, would make the hiring effective immediately after the council's action, Ford said, while Karim's first official day on staff is scheduled for Feb. 28. Acting City Attorney Kathleen Herden will continue serving in the role until that date, Ford said.

Ford told the council the city conducted a nationwide search and received many qualified applicants. “We ran a very rigorous process,” he said, adding the council and staff had collaborated to select a finalist. Mayor Jim Holmes and several council members welcomed Karim to the community during the work session and thanked Herden for her work in the interim.

Multiple members of the council praised the selection and noted the demands of the role overseeing legal advice to city departments, intergovernmental relationships and pending development projects. Ford said he expects the council to consider the appointment again at the evening meeting when the resolution is on the consent agenda for a formal vote.

If approved by the council, the resolution would formally appoint Karim and transition Herden out of the acting role on or about Feb. 28. The city manager did not provide additional terms of the employment agreement in the work session presentation.

Council members and staff indicated the appointment is part of ongoing efforts to ensure continuity in legal support for the city as several projects and agreements continue through council review.