SLT City Attorney Tom Watson leaving for job in Tracy

Tom Watson gave his resignation to the City Council on Wednesday, August 16, ending his four year stint as South Lake Tahoe's City Attorney.

Watson told South Tahoe Now he has been hired as the City Attorney in Tracy, California, a job that will get him closer to family.

“I am proud of what the City Attorney’s office has accomplished during my time here," said Watson. "I appreciate the Council and Staff’s dedication to this community and want Tahoe to thrive and prosper.”

The current Tracy City Attorney Bill Sartor gave notice earlier this year that he was retiring and their City Council started a search for his replacement.

There are some big issues on the horizon for Tracy, a city of almost 90,000 people located 67 miles south of Sacramento. Their leaders will be facing much of what South Lake Tahoe with allowing, or not allowing, marijuana-based businesses. Their county is looking at a business-park type set up in the unincorporated area of the county.

A graduate of Santa Clara University, Watson has served in numerous governmental
capacities since 1989. A specialist in construction litigation, he joined the Fresno law firm of Kimble, MacMichael & Upton upon completion of an internship with the Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals. After three years with KMU, Watson joined the Tulare County Counsel’ office, obtaining expertise in governmental construction and entitlements, which resulted in his serving as LAFCO counsel for the County.

In 2002, he left Tulare County to establish the law firm, Fike, Boranian & Watson. In 2005, Mr. Watson was appointed as a Judge Pro Tem for the Office of Administrative Services, a judicial arm of the State of California. From 2008 until coming to South Lake Tahoe, Watson served as the City Attorney for Mendota and was Woodlake’s City Attorney for over 16 years.

Watson is married to Dr. Jennifer Watson, EdD and they have two children.

Watson's last day will be September 29, 2017.