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Arlington County Board appoints Ryan Samuel as county attorney, effective Dec. 2
Summary
The Arlington County Board unanimously approved an employment agreement appointing Ryan Samuel as county attorney, effective Dec. 2, 2025, after a competitive vetting process; the board praised his leadership and plans to bring more legal work in-house amid a tight budget year.
Takis Carantones, chair of the Arlington County Board, moved on Tuesday to appoint Ryan Samuel as Arlington County’s county attorney and authorized the chair to sign the employment agreement on behalf of the board.
“I move that the county board appoint Ryan Samuel as the county attorney, effective 12/02/2025, and authorize the chair, me, to execute the employment agreement on behalf of the county board,” Carantones said, and the motion was seconded by Vice Chair Marta Ferrante. After a voice vote in which board members responded “Aye” and none opposed, the chair said “the motion carries.”
The action follows a lengthy, competitive search that the board described as involving both internal and external candidates. Ferrante praised Samuel’s interview and legal judgment, saying the way he interviewed and the way he has worked was “outstanding,” and that his independence and legal judgment convinced her to support the appointment.
Cunningham thanked colleagues for an “incredibly extensive vetting process” and said the board sought a county attorney who would provide independent legal advice, strategic counsel and a focus on county residents. Maureen Coffey said she and another board member conducted reference checks and underscored the value of empathy and getting “it right” in local government legal work.
Samuel, who was identified in the motion and spoke immediately after the vote, thanked the board and pledged to “work tirelessly to uphold the law, strengthen good governance, and ensure Arlington continues to thrive.” He said he looks forward to leading the office and supporting the county during “challenging times ahead.”
The appointment takes effect Dec. 2, 2025. Board members also discussed the goal of shifting more legal work from outside vendors to the county attorney’s office as part of preparing for a difficult budget year. With no further business, the chair adjourned the special meeting.
The board did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the decision was made by voice vote and announced as carried.
