Boulder City Attorney Search: 3 Finalists Announced

BOULDER, CO — After a nationwide search, Boulder officials have narrowed down three candidates for the city's new attorney.

The City Attorney Recruitment Committee — made up of council members Rachel Friend and Bob Yates — recommended the finalists after interviewing the group of semifinalists, officials said.

The City Council will select the city's next attorney at its Oct. 19 meeting.

"The finalists selected meet or exceed the qualifications, experience and desired qualities required for the position," city officials said in a news release.

Finalist Sandra Llanes, who has served as Boulder's interim attorney since May 2021, has worked for the city since she was hired as assistant city attorney in 2002.

Llanes received a Juris Doctor degree from University of Colorado Boulder School of Law. Prior to joining the city, she was a deputy county attorney at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix, Arizona.

Finalist Adam Stephens is assistant city attorney for Fort Collins, a position he has held since 2020. He began his career in local government in 2005 as assistant city attorney for the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was promoted to that city's deputy city attorney in 2015.

Stephens received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin — Madison.

Finalist Teresa Taylor Tate most recently served as deputy city attorney for the City of Longmont, a role she assumed in 2020 after serving as assistant city attorney since 2015.

Prior to her local government work, Tate was an associate at law firms Faegre Baker Daniels LLP in Boulder and Hogan Lovells in Denver.

Tate received a Juris Doctor degree from University of Colorado Boulder School of Law.

The city attorney, a position appointed by City Council, is the legal advisor to the city council, boards and commissions, and city officials.

More information can be found here.