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Lancaster council elects Jackie Harris mayor pro tem, reappoints city attorney, solicitor and judges
Summary
At its first 2026 work session the Lancaster City Council unanimously elected Council Member Jackie Harris as mayor pro tem and approved reappointments for city attorney Mitch Norrell, city solicitor Sarah Morris and municipal judge Elizabeth Hyatt; the council tabled standing-committee appointments until Jan. 27 and approved associate municipal judges with one recusal recorded.
The Lancaster City Council at its first work session of 2026 elected Council Member Jackie Harris as mayor pro tem and approved a series of reappointments to city legal and judicial posts.
Council Member Jackie Harris was nominated and re-elected mayor pro tem without objection. "I’d like to thank this council for your support as we have worked together in the past years," Harris said after the vote.
Following staff recommendations, the council reappointed Mitch Norrell as city attorney and Sarah Morris as city solicitor to two-year terms, and reappointed Elizabeth Hyatt as municipal judge. The council then approved a slate of associate municipal judges (full- and part-time); one council member recorded a recusal during that roll call.
The council also voted to table appointments to standing committees and boards until the second meeting in January (Jan. 27) while staff follows up with nominees and solicits additional candidates. Staff noted several seats—nine boards with 17 seats—are due and that some incumbents had not confirmed availability.
Votes at a glance: minutes approved (Dec. 9, 2025) — unanimous; mayor pro tem (Jackie Harris) — unanimous; Mitch Norrell (city attorney) — approved; Sarah Morris (city solicitor) — approved; Elizabeth Hyatt (municipal judge) — approved; associate municipal judges — approved with one recusal; standing-committee appointments — tabled until Jan. 27.
Mayor Megan Deveny congratulated Harris after the vote: "Congratulations, Mayor Pro Tem," Deveny said. Council directed staff to return candidate names and formal appointment recommendations at the Jan. 27 meeting.
