Apr 10, 2013 2 min read

The city of Washington is seeking proposals for a new solicitor in the event its current one wins a party nomination for one of two seats on the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County.

Lane Turturice is currently the city’s solicitor but he is running in the May primary for a ballot position for judge. He faces seven other candidates running to replace seats vacant due to retiring judges Janet Moschetta Bell and Paul Pozonsky. Two Republican candidates and two Democrats will face off in the November election.

The decision to advertise for requests for proposals from attorneys came up at City Council’s meeting last week.

Mayor Brenda Davis said the city was taking the action now should Turturice win the election.

“If he wins the primary, it muddies the water for the city. We can’t afford to wait until November and have to train someone in 30 days,” she said.

Also at council’s last meeting, members entered into a cooperation agreement with the Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living to apply for a grant by April 15 under the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

If awarded, the $3.5 million grant would be used to renovate the former YWCA at 42 W. Maiden St. that has been purchased by TRIPIL for its headquarters.

Richard Cleveland, the city’s grant writing consultant, said the city agreed to be the applicant since it already had an authorized project before the Office of the Budget for the downtown.

TRIPIL is seeking the grant for renovation and new construction on the building.