Kilgore City Council appoints Blake Armstrong, of Tyler, to city attorney role

The Kilgore City Council has appointed a new city attorney after Robert Schleier Jr. retired from the post after 29 years of service.

Blake Armstrong was appointed to the role after an extensive interview process with members of council and other city officials, as well as Schleier.

City Manager Josh Selleck said the committee formed to find a new candidate for the role agreed Armstrong was the right choice for the job.

“We have gone through a request for qualifications process to select a new attorney,” Selleck said.

“Through that process, we have found that the best candidate from our perspective is Blake Armstrong,” Selleck said. “We went through an interview process that included all the key staff: (KPD) Chief Hunter, (Director of Public Works) Clay Evers, myself, (City Clerk) Rachel Rowe, everybody who generally interfaces a great deal with the city attorney, as well as the two most senior members of council. We also provided opportunities for other council members to meet one-on-one with Blake. It was the committee’s recommendation unanimously that we select him as our new city attorney.”

According to the Texas State Bar, Armstrong earned his law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1998 and was granted his law license later that year. At his law firm based in Tyler, Armstrong has focused on government and administrative law throughout his career.

“I’ve been practicing for 25 years up in Tyler,” Armstrong said.

“I do nothing but municipal work. It’s what I do, it’s how I make a living. I know I have extremely big shoes to fill. If I have the opportunity, I certainly welcome it and look forward to working with the council and the city.”

Mayor Pro Tem Harvey McClendon made the motion to appoint Armstrong to the role, and council member Victor Boyd seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.