Norton named Riverside city attorney

Phaedra Norton has been named Riverside’s city attorney.

Currently city attorney in Merced, Norton will oversee a staff of 39 people, including 18 attorneys, who provide legal service to Riverside, according to a statement on the city’s website.

She is scheduled to take office on July 20.

“As a growing city with its own utility, Riverside is often confronted with extremely complex issues,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in the statement. “We need wise and experienced legal counsel to navigate these issues and I am confident Phaedra Norton is the right person to ensure that we do.”

Norton started as Merced’s city attorney in October 2018 after working briefly as Stockton’s deputy city attorney. Before that, she spent 20 years as Turlock’s city attorney.

She will be paid $286,000 a year, according to the statement.