Clark County has a new top civil lawyer and has also hired a policy analyst to advise the county council.
Emily Sheldrick has taken over as Clark County’s chief civil deputy prosecutor, replacing Chris Horne, who held the position since 2013 and retired Dec. 31 after 35 years of service to the county.
“He was an excellent public servant and I hope to be as dedicated a public servant as he was,” said Sheldrick, 46.
In her new position, Sheldrick will manage the county’s civil legal matters. Her most visible role will be providing legal advice to the Clark County council as well as other elected officials.
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik said he settled on Sheldrick in October because of her “very impressive track record” and her demonstrated ability to lead the division. Golik said she will oversee six attorneys and three support staff. According to Golik, Sheldrick was previously making $118,812 and will now make $128,100.
Before joining the prosecutor’s office in 2014, Sheldrick worked for private firms in Seattle and Vancouver, where she practiced employment and commercial law.
Sheldrick, a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, said that she is active in the local bar association. She said she had been interested in public service earlier in her career but the opportunity hadn’t come up.
“So when the opportunity came up, I went for it,” she said.
Speaking briefly before his last day, Horne described his retirement as positive and wished the county well.
Policy analyst
The county has also hired Lindsey Shafar as a senior policy analyst. Interim County Manager Jim Rumpeltes said in an email that Shafar begins her position on Jan. 4 and previously worked as an attorney for the Washington State House of Representatives on policy and legislation.
“Lindsey will report to the county manager in support of the county council on policy development and legislative affairs,” Rumpeltes said.
Before Clark County voters passed the home rule charter in 2014, the then-county commission hired Peter Silliman as a policy analyst. Silliman, a Republican, was a former legislative candidate and freeholder who opposed the charter and his hiring by the Republican-controlled council was criticized for its appearance of political cronyism.
Under the new charter, the county manager is the chief executive and the only employee of the county council. After the charter went into effect, then-County Manager Mark McCauley laid off Silliman and another policy analyst left the county.
Since then, members of the council had expressed interest in having a staff member who would provide them with advice and support independent of county staff. Horne had advised the council that there is nothing in the charter that prevents it from creating the position.
Although the position was created to assist the council, the analyst still technically answers to the county manager. Rumpeltes said that he will direct the analyst to provide support to the council.
He said her monthly salary will be $7,570 and will have the same benefits as other county positions.
