Springfield's city attorney sets retirement date

Springfield City Attorney Rhonda Lewsader is retiring from the municipality.

Lewsader is scheduled to retire at year's end after 24 years with the city, according to a news release.

“Rhonda has done a superb job in a very fast-paced, often challenging environment,” City Manager Jason Gage said in the release. “She led us through the COVID-19 pandemic, was instrumental in reaching an agreement for the purchase of Hammons Field and has provided guidance on numerous topics that have helped Springfield grow and thrive. We will miss her.”

In her more than two decades with the city, Lewsader has worked as municipal prosecutor for 13 years, as airport legal counsel and served as an adviser for several departments. She was deputy city attorney before becoming city attorney in 2019.

Lewsader now leads a 20-employee department that represents the municipality and City Council in all legal matters, according to the release.

A search for her successor is slated to begin in the coming weeks.