Womble is named new city attorney
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on February 20, 2007 1:48 PM
Goldsboro City Council members named a new city attorney Monday at City Hall moments after Tim Finan officially submitted his letter of resignation.
James D. Womble Jr., a real estate attorney and partner in Finan's law firm, will take the post Feb. 22.
Finan was forced to step down after Gov. Mike Easley appointed him as the new judge for the 8th District, a position left vacant when Rose Vaughn Williams took a job with the state Insurance Commissioner's Office at the first of the year.
"My service as city attorney has been a highlight of my career, and I thank you for allowing me to serve you," Finan told the council. "Not only do I respect those who work for our city, but I have made many great friends while I have worked here."
Womble graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School in 1972.
Since that time, he has held several local leadership positions with various organizations including the Wayne County Bar Association, the Goldsboro Kiwanis Association, the Mental Health Association of Wayne County and the Wayne Area Mental Health Board.
Womble also is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina State Bar, and the American Bar Association.
City Manager Joe Huffman said a decision to stick with Everett, Womble, Finan, Lawrence & Brown, LLP, will mean a smoother transition period from one attorney to the next.
Womble is the third member of the firm to be appointed city attorney. Harrell Everett served the post for several years before Finan was appointed.
The city attorney is charged with attending all meetings of the City Council and assisting with legal matters -- personnel issues, acquisition and sale of property, annexations, title searches for dilapidated dwellings and more.
Womble is married with two children, both raised in Goldsboro. His wife is a teacher at Wayne Community College.