Assistant Orlando Attorney Named Clearwater City Attorney

CLEARWATER, FL — In a special meeting that took less than 15 minutes, the Clearwater City Council unanimously agreed to hire David Margolis as the new city attorney Tuesday afternoon.

The decision came after 55 minutes of one-on-one interviews with the five finalists on Monday followed by group interviews Tuesday morning.

"I think we could throw darts at a board," said Mayor Frank Hibbard. "All the candidates are extremely qualified, but we know we have to narrow it down to one."

"This was very, very hard," council member David Albritton "Each of these candidates can do this job with flying colors."

"This was my first experience interviewing someone one on one, and I was greatly impressed with every candidate," council member Kathleen Beckman said. "Truly in my heart, it was very, very close."

Margolis will replace Pam Akin who will retire after 27 years leading the legal department.

In addition to Margolis, finalists were Aleksandr Boksner, deputy city attorney for the city of Miami Beach; Barnaby Min, deputy city attorney for Miami; Matthew Smith, senior assistant attorney for Clearwater; and Patricia Smith, deputy city attorney for the city of Palm Bay.

Margolis has been the chief assistant city attorney for the city of Orlando since 2019. Prior to that, he served as general counsel for the Orange County Clerk of the Circuit Court from 2016-2019, was the public safety legal adviser (senior assistant city attorney) for the city of Hollywood from 2015 to 2016, assistant general council for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from 2011 to 2015, served as an adjunct professor for Seminole State College in Sanford from 2010 to 2015 and was assistant state attorney from 2008-2011.

Honors include the Champion of Justice award in November 2011 and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Top Prosecutor of the Year award in October 2011.

Margolis graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in Coral Gables.

The city will now begin negotiating a contract with Margolis. The position pays between $210,000 to $240,000.