The Water District Board of Directors has selected Mike Willatt, attorney with the Austin firm of Willatt & Flickinger, to serve as the district’s general counsel.

He becomes only the third person to serve as general counsel since the creation of the Water District in 1951.  William E. Nicholas, county judge of San Patricio County from 1949 to 1962, served as general counsel to the board from 1952 until shortly before his death in 1991, a period of 39 years.

For the next 20 years the position was held by Aransas Pass attorney Thomas M. Andrews, appointed May 21, 1991.   Andrews recently withdrew saying he was stepping down as part of his decision to scale back his legal practice.

Willatt has been providing water law, contract and other legal counsel to the Water District since 1991 as well.  His work has included water supply issues, contracts and management of litigation activities from his Austin offices.  He will add participation in monthly board meetings to his existing assignments.

District General Manager Jim Naismith said that shortly after he took over as manager he was looking for an Austin attorney who knew the Texas water business and who could assist the district in dealing with demands being made for excessive freshwater releases from Choke Canyon Reservoir.  Mike Willatt was recommended and the relationship has continued ever since.

Board Member Ed Rainwater of Rockport voiced his support for Willatt’s appointment noting that he has always appreciated the attorney’s ability to be concise and put things in a way that can be easily understood.  “I have found that once he has helped us understand a legal issue we can have great confidence in moving in that direction,” he said.

Willatt made a point of telling the board that he asked to be considered for the general counsel position and that it would mean a lot to him personally.  He said he has long felt a close relationship with the board and the district staff.

The Willatt & Flickinger firm primarily represents water districts, cities, school districts, water utilities, homeowner’s associations, developers and entities seeking permits or other approvals from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Willatt holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of London and graduated first in his class at the University of Houston School of Law.