Q&A with retiring attorney

CELEBRATING 31 YEARS OF SERVICE

Cindy Harmison retired as Lenexa’s city attorney on May 8 after 31 years of service with the City of Lenexa. In this Q&A, she reflects on her most memorable experiences and the rewards of public service. What do you love most about your job? There is not just one thing. First, I work with great people. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with three great mayors and many wonderful city councilmembers, three great city managers and many, many terrific city employees. Both the elected officials and City staff have a real desire to make Lenexa a great place to live and work. I feel everyone is truly invested in doing the right thing for the right reason. Second, I love the variety in my job. Although each of the attorneys in my office tend to develop areas of specialty, we all have to be generalists to some degree because we deal with so many different legal issues (contract law, tort law, constitutional law, criminal law, real estate, employment law, etc.). While that can sometimes be challenging and a little frustrating because of time constraints, it also makes each day interesting and it requires us to

Photo by Bill Harrison

be continual learners. I’ve always been a curious person that asks a lot of questions, and that serves me well in my job. Lastly, I like problem-solving. There is nothing more rewarding than helping to resolve a dispute or being presented with a problem and being able to help find a solution. Finding the “win-win” is always a great feeling. I once had a property owner whose land I condemned a portion of for a road later use me as a reference for a job with the City. We had a positive encounter despite it being a difficult and emotional time for their family. I also became friends with a woman in her 90’s who lived on a farm near 79th Street and Maurer during our construction of 79th Street. I would take her hot fudge sundaes and talk about not only the project, but also about the history of Lenexa and her experiences growing up in the community. She rode a horse to attend a one-room schoolhouse, and her family would take the horse and buggy from their farm to church in Old Town. Lawyers are sometimes referred to as “counselors,” and a member of my staff says that is never more true than in the role of a city attorney. I agree. What is the most interesting thing you’ve done as the city attorney? I’ve been tased as part of the police department taser training. I participated so that when defending the Police Department in a use-offorce claim, I would have a better understanding of both the training provided and the experience of the individual tased. During a late night ride-along with the Police Department, I was in a high-speed pursuit arising out of an armed carjacking that ended in Lawrence, Kansas. I’ve participated in an inspection of a collapsed underground mine. It is never a dull moment! If someone is considering a career in public service, what advice would you offer them? If you are motivated, not by money, but by a purpose beyond yourself, public service can be extremely rewarding. It provides you an opportunity to help others now and in the future by building sustainable communities and positive relationships. I think public employees are often given a bad rap because there is a perception that they are not as smart or as driven as people in the private sector, but my experience has been directly contrary to this perception. I have worked with so many talented, creative and high-performing individuals in my career, both at the City and in other governmental entities. The most successful individuals are the persons who truly care about their organization and the people they serve. They want to make a difference, and they do.

CINDY HARMISON