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Three finalists for Grand Rapids city attorney stress rule of law, equity and transparency at public forum
Summary
At a public forum for Grand Rapids City’s next city attorney, finalists Sarah Hartman, Matt Cross and interim Phil Strom detailed their backgrounds and answered questions on policing, equity, transparency, ethics, housing and intergovernmental cooperation.
Three finalists vying to be Grand Rapids City attorney emphasized adherence to the law, stronger community engagement and attention to equity during a public forum on the recruitment process.
Sarah Hartman, the city’s director of legal affairs for the civil litigation division, Matt Cross, an outside municipal-law partner, and Phil Strom, the interim city attorney, each outlined how they would advise the city on policing, prosecutions, protests, housing and transparency if selected by the city commission. The candidates said the city attorney’s office should counsel the commission on legal risk while also listening to community stakeholders and seeking administrative changes that avoid unequal outcomes.
The candidates described different emphases rather than sharply divergent legal philosophies. Hartman said her litigation work gives her insight into where policies break down…
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