Candidate for Bridgeport’s top lawyer takes Norwalk job
BRIDGEPORT — Tyisha Toms, a respected municipal attorney whom City Council members hoped would soon be promoted to helm the law department, is instead leaving for a job in Norwalk.
“To lose someone like that, it’s really bothersome and extremely disappointing,” City Council President Aidee Nieves said.
“I think that it’s a shame,” said Councilman Ernie Newton. “Here we had a woman who was destined to maybe become the new (lead) city attorney. ... We have lost a good person. It’s just terrible.”
Toms, who did not return a request for comment, is an associate city attorney and one of that office’s few Black and female staffers. She was hired in 2016 by City Attorney R. Christopher Meyer. Prior to that time she had a private practice and in 2015 ran unsuccessfully for the council.
Meyer this week confirmed he had received her resignation. According to Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling’s office, Toms was offered and accepted a $150,582 position there as assistant corporation counsel — the term for that city’s municipal lawyer — and starts at the end of May.
The news has upset Nieves, Newton and other council members who consider it a significant blow to Bridgeport for multiple reasons.
First, with Meyer planning to retire next month, their hope was Mayor Joe Ganim would promote Toms as Meyer’s successor.
The law department, besides defending Bridgeport from lawsuits and negotiating contracts, provides legal advice and representation to the mayor, city department heads and staff, and to the council. Meyer, who had previously worked in the law department, left, then in 2016 returned to run it after helping elect Ganim the year prior.
Council members over the years have butted heads with Meyer and some of his subordinates, questioning their independence from the mayor when advising the council, but this week heaped praise on Toms.
“It is disappointing because of the caliber of attorney that she is,” Nieves said. “And ideally she would have been a candidate to become the city attorney once that position opened up because of the level of professionalism (and) the relationships she has fostered with the council members and administrative staff. Her insight and input is a valued resource to many people.”
City Councilman Marcus Brown said he had spoken with Toms and she had expressed interest in that top role, but Norwalk ultimately offered a better salary and benefits.
“There’s a hidden talent most people lack in city government and that’s the ability to be able to communicate with the council. She had it,” said Brown. “She was able to take our ideas and tell us what worked and didn’t.”
And as a young Black woman Toms stood out in an office that some on the council criticize as dominated by older white men. Meyer confirmed that of the 10 attorneys in the law department, just two — including Toms — are Black. He noted he also has an Hispanic paralegal.
“We’re losing 50 percent of the Black employees and women in that office and that’s not good,” said Brown. “And she’s on the younger side of the age range.”
Councilwoman Jeanette Herron agreed the law department is not diverse enough, “And having her gone, it’s totally not.”
“I’m very disturbed Tyisha’s gone. Very disturbed,” Herron said.
Council members also lamented the fact that Toms is a Bridgeport resident.
“We’ll bring everybody from outside this city, and you’ve got competent people who live here, that are professionals,” Newton said.
Newton said Meyer should have done more to keep Toms.
“I encouraged Tyisha to stay,” Meyer said in response. “I had lunch with her yesterday (Wednesday) and told her we wanted her to stay, we hoped she’d stay. ... She’s not only a great lawyer but a great friend. I think very highly of her.”
Of taking over the law department for him, Meyer said, “She can do whatever she puts her mind to. I have no doubt she’s great at everything.”
With an eye on leaving his position May 31, Meyer is looking to replace Toms and fill a second vacancy created when a new hire from Waterbury left earlier this year after only a few months.
Asked about the lack of diversity in the law department, Meyer said, “We consider everybody and try to select the best lawyers we can to represent the city and do our best to make sure our workforce reflects the great diversity of Bridgeport.” He noted another Black attorney on his staff transferred within municipal government to the labor relations department.
“I wish her the best of luck,” Nieves said of Toms. “It just speaks to her skill set that Norwalk has offered her that position.”