SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – After 7.5 years in the position, Heather Stroud has resigned as the South Lake Tahoe City Attorney. Her last day will be July 1.
Stroud submitted her resignation to the city council on Friday, April 24, 2026.
“This has been a tough decision, but ultimately I have come to the conclusion that I need to move on for both personal and professional reasons and to further my long-term career goals,” said Stroud in her resignation letter.
Stroud will be starting a new job on July 6 as senior counsel with the law firm Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley P.C. She said in her letter that she and her family plan to stay in South Lake Tahoe since her kids are still in local schools. According to the law firm’s website, they have offices in Pasadena, Grass Valley, Orange County, Sacramento, San Diego and Sonoma and represent public and private clients throughout California in municipal law.
“I want to thank you for allowing me to serve this wonderful community for the past 7.5 years,” said Stroud in her resignation letter. “It has been the highlight of my career to date.”
During her tenure, Stroud guided the City through the regulation of cannabis and litigation over vacation home rentals. She follows the departure of Joe Irvin, who left as city manager in March for the City of Malibu.
Before moving to South Lake Tahoe, the University of Colorado law school graduate served as a deputy city attorney in both Carlsbad and San Diego.
There will be more shake-up in the city this fall when three of the five city council seats will be up for election, which follows the resignation of Mayor Tamara Wallace after she admitted to embezzling funds from a local church. That case is under investigation by authorities.