Lane County Commissioners unanimously voted to hire Rob Bovett, Senior Assistant County Counsel with Washington County, to serve as the next Lane County Counsel.
A County Counsel is similar to a City Attorney. Bovette will be responsible for leading the County Counsel’s office, which provides legal advice to county commissioners and employees, handles the county’s civil litigation including worker’s compensation, land use, public contracting and maintaining the county code and manual; manages county legal risk and fields public records requests.
Rob Bovett, Assistant County Counsel with Washington County, will be the next Lane County Counsel
The County Counsel is one of two filled positions (alongside the County Administrator) who directly reports to the Board of Commissioners. According to a 2021-22 fiscal year report it was the County’s second-highest paying position.
Bovett has a long history in county legal positions across Oregon. According to his resume, Bovett has worked as Senior Assistant County Counsel in Washington County, Legal Counsel for the Association of Oregon Counties and District Attorney and Assistant County Counsel in Lincoln County.
Bovett is also active at the state capitol. In the 2024 legislative session, he was involved in the crafting of HB 4002 and SB 1555 (Measure 110 reform measures) and HB 4121 (which limits the number of cannabis licenses the state can give out).
Rob Bovett, new Lane County Counsel, testifies before the state legislature on behalf of HB 4002, the 2024 bill that recriminalized drugs in Oregon.
Bringing Bovett on-board “is very exciting and really welcome,” County Commissioner Laurie Trieger said at the meeting.
Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Lane County hires Rob Bovett as new lead attorney