Travis County Commssioners Court
February 3, 2004
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Item 3
3. Introduction of randy leavitt and tony nelson to Commissioners court by -- and the world -- by the county attorney's office.
>> [indiscernible] judge, Commissioners, thank you for entertaining our request today. This March will serve as a year since y'all took that great risk and appointed me county attorney. And within the -- I hadn't expected it at that time, one of the great things that I thought coming in, one of the benefits that I had was that we had a strong staff that I could just take over and just continue moving forward. The least things that I expected was within nine months of taking office that I would have to fill my first assistant position and as well senior position, senior civil litigation position, positions that mac martinez held and todd clark held, both people that I believe got to know the Commissioners court very well and served our office ably. We are very proud to have had them. Taking those tasks very close together, we have set out to find people that we thought could come in and fill those positions and hopefully not miss a beat and carry on where their predecessors left off. I'm proud to sit here today and tell you that I think grading our own paper we get an a plus where that, today here I'm proud to be able to introduce you to mr. Randy left have it and tony -- randy levitt, major nelson is running late today, but hopefully he will join us in a little while, if not I will be bringing him to meet each and every one of them, let me start with randy. Many of you may know randy from his previous work over at the little red brick law office across the street. Minton-burton firm. But I was rereading the resume again, there's a lot of things that you may not know about randy. Randy, first of all graduated from Texas tech law school where he was an associate editor. But also he's board certified criminal law, that's where he fills that gap I needed in criminal law. Very well experienced in both civil and criminal litigation, that's what -- I have a bias, of course, my 10 years as first assistant that it really is a key position where you have to be able to cover both ends of the spectrum criminal and civil and randy steps in and takes care of that just fantastic. Also voted most recently something that I hadn't known is super lawyer of the year by Texas monthly.
>> I don't know.
>> something like that. We really have succeeded in being able to draw great talent to the office. And we are really looking forward to -- to be able to do great things here. It's with the help of people like randy and then if tony hadn't made it. I may reserve that for a later time to bring tony back, because I know that he's going to want to say a few words. But I'm so fortunate to have him here. He will be getting to know each of you all that you don't know already very well because he's going to work closely with the Commissioners court as well as holding up the criminal law side of it. His wife, k.t. Is here with us today. Just -- specifically when I started -- I won't talk years, but k.t. Is a former employee of the county attorney's office as well. I would like to think that that was -- that was something that helped to convince randy to forego high salaries and fame outside in the private sector to come and work for us and for you. And with that I will turn it over to randy if you want to say a few words.
>> well, you didn't say that I was going to have to say anything. Good morning, judge, county Commissioners, I'm so glad to be here. Let me make one quick qualification here. I wasn't voted super lawyer in Texas. I was one of many named in the Texas monthly article.
>> I wasn't on that list so -- [laughter]
>> but I am -- I am very excited about being here. I think I know most of you, a couple of you I have not gotten to know yet. I have been practicing law here for 23 years. A lot of what I have done has been with the county attorney's office on the other side of the docket from me. I have also recently was asked by y'all and hired as outside counsel and worked very closely with the civil division in some litigation against the county. I don't think that I have been as excited about a job since I got out of law school as I have about taking this o. It was a lot of soul searching, I gave up a good private practice to come over here, but I wanted to do it because I wanted to give something back. I think this county has done a lot for me in this community, I want to give something back to it. I am truly excited about the office that I have gone to work for. I know that it is a top class law firm. I'm proud to be associated with it. I look forward to working with you all. I want to get to know you better. I want you to consider me your lawyer.
>> well done.
>> thank you.
>> look forward to working with you.
>> thank you.
>> you're welcome.
>> thanks.
>> make sure that you tell tony nelson what a golden opportunity that he missed this morning. Mr. County attorney.
>> okay. [laughter]
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 4, 2004 6:25 AM