Morgan Hill City Attorney Donald Larkin will serve his last day on Friday as he retires after nearly ten years.  

Larkin has been the city’s chief attorney since 2016. After he retires he will stay on as Interim City Attorney through a contract with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, the city said.  

“This arrangement provides continuity during the City’s recruitment process for a permanent City Attorney, which is expected to take several months,” the city said. 

Larkin previously held legal roles with the cities of Santa Clara and Palo Alto, and served as Deputy County Counsel for Santa Clara County, where he advised the Sheriff’s Office and other departments. His public service career began in Morgan Hill, where he served as an intern in environmental programs. 

“It’s been an honor to serve our community,” said Larkin in a statement released by the city. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done together. While there have been challenges along the way, I’ve been fortunate to serve the City of Morgan Hill. It has been truly rewarding to work with such a thoughtful and compassionate team of professionals who work hard every day to make Morgan Hill a caring, safe, and inclusive community. I look forward to continuing to support the City in this next chapter.” 

Mayor Mark Turner said Larkin’s exit is “bittersweet.” 

“For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of working with someone whose wisdom, integrity, and dedication are unmatched. We are grateful for his service and fortunate to have him continue guiding us in this interim capacity,” Turner said.  

Larkin oversaw the city’s 2019 settlement with two boys who were seriously injured in 2016 at a Morgan Hill intersection that the plaintiffs alleged lacked proper visibility and lighting.  The city settled for $30 million but did not admit fault to conditions at the intersection.  

He will assume his interim role beginning next Monday, July 28,, and will work part-time until a successor is appointed.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.