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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Delaney signs two-month deal to ‘fill in’

The city of Spokane Valley has signed a two-month contract with attorney Howard Delaney while the city searches for a new deputy city attorney.

Delaney was the Spokane city attorney until he was fired by Mayor David Condon in March amid criticism about how Delaney’s office handled several high-profile cases.

Delaney started work last week, City Manager Mike Jackson said. There’s simply too much work for one attorney to do, he said. “That’s to fill in during the interim,” he said. “We’ve got a lot going on right now.”

City attorney Cary Driskell also has some vacation time coming up, Jackson said. “Typically we try to have an attorney present,” he said.

Jackson said he doesn’t have a problem with the fact that Delaney was fired from his last job. Delaney is well versed in municipal law and will be an “immediate asset” to the city, Jackson said.

Delaney was a prosecutor before he became Spokane’s city attorney in 2008.