Saying he's found a passion for working within an evolving utility industry, North Little Rock City Attorney Jason Carter is retiring to enter private practice with a focus on municipal utilities, he said Monday.
Mayor Joe Smith announced he will recommend Assistant City Attorney Amy Fields to serve out Carter's elected term that runs through 2018. The City Council holds the authority to appoint someone to fill an elected position.
Carter, 49, is in his third elected term as city attorney after being appointed in February 2007 to fill the unexpired term of Paul Suskie. His retirement will be effective Nov. 17.
On top of his city attorney duties, Carter served as the North Little Rock Electric Department's interim general manager from December 2012 to April 2015, then continued as the utility's general counsel while also continuing as city attorney. The experience spurred him toward a new career, he said Monday.
"It kind of even backed up to when I got pulled in on a lot of the heavy [rate] contract negotiations," Carter said in an interview Monday, referring to negotiations between the city utility and power providers and the restructuring of electric revenue bonds. "I found a passion for it, and I liked doing it. It's something to really sink your teeth into. It's important and it's rapidly changing. I have fun in that kind of work environment.
"The changes in the utility industry right now are profound," he said. "There's such a bold shift in the traditional utility structures of building a power plant and stringing wire to a customer. Now there are so many renewable resources and so many markets, advanced metering technologies, energy efficiency. The entire industry business model is being reinvented right now. And I think that's fun."
Smith said in a letter to City Council members Monday that Carter had informed him "many months ago" of his intent to move into private practice and that preparations for a transition began then.
"Jason has done an exceptional job preparing his staff and my administration for his departure," Smith wrote. He also praised Carter's work for the city and his value to Smith's administration.
"Jason has served our city with the highest distinction and integrity for the past 10 years," Smith said. "His work ethic is second-to-none, his legal knowledge and counsel has been invaluable, and his successful oversight of our electric department was critical. Jason remains a great friend and trusted advisor to my administration and me personally."
Fields, 51, joined the city attorney's office in April after about a dozen years as an assistant city attorney in Little Rock. She previously worked in the North Little Rock office for almost a year before taking the Little Rock job.
"She's jumped right in and has been doing a great job," Carter said of Fields. "She's been contributing from the moment she walked in the door."
Smith said Fields is "prepared and enjoys the confidence and trust of Jason Carter and myself."
Metro on 11/08/2017