City Council, Kalauli agree on contract
 Veteran jurist set to become new magistrate May 16
 
By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Today's News-Herald - Lake Havasu City
 
Judge Mitchell Kalauli is set to take over as Lake Havasu City’s newest magistrate May 16.

The City Council voted 6-0 to approve an employment agreement with Kalauli Tuesday night during the council’s regular meeting. Councilwoman Margaret Nyberg was absent from the meeting. The seven-member council unanimously selected Kalauli as Lake Havasu City’s new city magistrate in March. Kalauli is set to receive $117,500 annually with his two-year contract beginning May 16. Former City Magistrate Clyde Andress received $127,930.50, according to Andress’ employment agreement.

"We’re really excited," Kalauli said, adding that he and his family are currently looking for a house in Lake Havasu City.

Kalauli previously beat out two other finalists, Lake Havasu City Prosecutor Charles Yager and Lake Havasu City Attorney Heather Wellborn, to replace Andress and interim City Magistrate Jill Davis. Kalauli has served six years as a justice of the peace for the Mohave County Justice Court Moccasin Division, between Fredonia and Colorado City. He also recently served as a judge for Kaibab Paiute Tribe.

Kalauli’s experience as a judge ultimately led the council to select him over the other candidates, council members said Tuesday.

"To me, his experience just means he’s a man that’s been wearing many hats ... so we’re happy to have him," Mayor Mark Nexsen said. "We’re happy that we got a contract that works for both of us."

Vice Mayor Don Callahan agreed.

"Everything is looking like he’s going to be a good choice for the job," Callahan said. "Of the three finalists we had, he was the only one who had judicial experience, which is in the end what we used to make the choice, I think."

Kalauli graduated from law school at the University of Washington in 1997. He later worked six years as an attorney in Seattle before moving to Mohave County to become a judge.

Andress announced his retirement in November 2010, and City Council members unanimously agreed to accept the "voluntary resignation" less than a week after the Arizona Supreme Court officially reprimanded Andress following the Commission of Judicial Conduct commission review centering on an area girls’ softball league. The commission recommended Andress be censured for his decision that stemmed from a harassment case in March to reinstate a youth player to the league.

The position required a candidate to have a "Juris Doctorate and five years experience practicing law or acting in a judicial capacity; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job," according to the original job posting. The original employment notice also stated that the new hire would receive $90,000 to $120,000 annually.

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com
 
HavasuNews.com
Originally published Tuesday, April 26, 2011
 
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