After a closed session held by the Long Beach City Council Tuesday night, retiring City Attorney Robert Shannon announced that Charles Parkin was selected to serve as acting city attorney until a permanent city attorney is selected by City Council.

Parkin is currently Shannon’s assistant city attorney and was named by Shannon in a Press-Telegram story as his preferred successor. Shannon is retiring in July. 

Shannon has stated that part of the reason he is stepping down instead of serving the entirety of his four-year term, which ends in April 2014, is to give Parkin a leg-up in the election. With Shannon’s early retirement, the decision of who serves as city attorney through next April falls upon a City Council vote. If Shannon had chosen to serve his full term, the voters of Long Beach would be the first to choose the next city attorney in April 2014.

Tuesday’s vote only solidifies Parkin’s role as acting city attorney. On July 9, the City Clerk will announce the process to select a permanent city attorney, and a timeline for such procedures.

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