spent several years working in the Office of the City Attorney, left to become assistant corporation counsel for the City of Norwalk, now she’s back this time as the chief legal council for Bridgeport.
Mayor Joe Ganim officially appointed her on Thursday during a Facebook Live segment. See above.
Since the retirement of R. Christopher Meyer, the void was filled by long-time municipal lawyer Mark Anastasi who had served as city attorney for decades.
Toms is well liked among her peers and as recently as a few weeks ago provided legal insight on the OIB comments section.
News release:
Today, Mayor Ganim announced the appointment of Attorney Tyisha S. Toms to serve as the City Attorney for the City of Bridgeport. Attorney Toms will bring over twenty years of legal and managerial experience to the role, including extensive municipal law experience as the Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Norwalk and former Associate City Attorney for the City of Bridgeport. Attorney Toms’s appointment as Bridgeport’s City Attorney will be effective on Monday, February 5, 2024. The Mayor will make this appointment pursuant to Bridgeport City Charter, Chapter 7, Section 2 and her appointment will continue through December 31, 2027.
Attorney Toms was born and raised in Bridgeport, is a long-time Bridgeport homeowner, and is mother of two. She brings extensive municipal law experience to the role, including experience in municipal contracts, FOIA issues, real estate, and compliance. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science from Albertus Magnus College and her law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Currently, Toms is Treasurer of the Board of Directors for both the Bridgeport Arts and Cultural Council and Career Resources. She has served on the Board of Directors for Alliance for Community Empowerment and ACCESS Educational Services.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the appointment of Attorney Toms to lead our City Attorney’s Office,” stated Mayor Ganim. “Not only is Attorney Toms a skilled legal professional and exceptional manager, but she is a respected member of the Bridgeport community. Throughout her previous tenure with the City of Bridgeport, she proved herself to be a trusted public servant who served with integrity. I look forward to her sharing best practices that she has learned from Norwalk as she takes on this new role in Bridgeport.”
“I am excited to return to the City of Bridgeport as your new City Attorney. Bridgeport has a very special place in my heart. That said, I’m grateful for my time in Norwalk and feel very fortunate to that opportunity. I am confident that the extensive expertise of the Bridgeport city attorneys will guide my work and decisions. I’m ready to get to work,” state Attorney Tyisha S. Toms.
The City of Bridgeport offers great thanks and appreciation to current City Attorney Mark Anastasi for his years of service and dedication to the City. Mark, who has served in the City Attorney’s Office for over three decades, has served with integrity and competence. He has been an invaluable resource to multiple administrations and City Councils over his many years of service, and has earned the distinction of being one of the top legal experts in municipal law in the State of Connecticut.
Congratulations to Attorney-at-Law, Tyisha Toms on her appointment to the post of City Attorney. She has the experience, the intelligence, and a record of integrity along with caring for the diverse people of the City. She has had experience in private legal practice, as well as the opportunity to attend to municipal law in Bridgeport and subsequently in Norwalk as points in comparative City governance. I will guess that this professional experience will provide value when the City gets around to Charter review and other matters of note where the “rule of law” is in the books but perhaps has been dallied with, ignored, or abandoned in the matter of FAIR Rent and FAIR Housing Commissions.
And a thank you to Mark Anastasi whose acitivty has spanned the Ganim1, Fabrizi, Finch and Ganim2 reigns. He has provided comment on the “rule of law” when requested (and occasionally when ignored). Tough service for anyone. The stories he knows but likely will not provide in book form? But he has been present and even tempered at times when other participants are burning. Again thank you.
A new year. Upcoming local election primary, mayoral, and DTC and in November 2024? Time will tell.
No National Search? Never mind, the result would have been the same. JML, what was the name of your running mate for City Council?