Maine attorney becomes first woman to fill city position
Portland, Maine - Today, City of Portland Mayor Michael Brennan announced the selection of the City Council’s search committee of Danielle West-Chuhta as Portland Corporation Counsel. Her appointment will be considered by the Portland City Council at the next meeting January 23, 2013. West-Chuhta will officially fill the position following the retirement of Gary Wood in September of last year. Over the past four months, West-Chuhta has been serving in the position as Acting Corporation Counsel. In that capacity, she has provided legal advice to City staff, the Mayor and City Council as well as various city boards, committees and commissions for a variety of legal issues. West-Chuhta joined the city’s legal team in 2008 as associate Corporation Counsel. During her tenure she litigated and resolved complex municipal, land use, real estate, employment, licensing, and environmental disputes.
“Danielle’s experience and understanding of local government made her the natural choice for Corporation Counsel,” stated Mayor Brennan. “Her unflappable demeanor is often needed when dealing with complex and sometimes controversial legal issues. She understands the city and the community and I am confident that the city’s legal team will benefit from her leadership.”
Prior to joining the city, West-Chuhta focused on municipal law, land use law and litigation at Bergen & Parkinson LLC. Upon graduating from University of Maine School of Law, West-Chuhta began her legal career as a law clerk for the Maine Superior Court. West-Chuhta lives in Portland with her husband and two children.
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