City
Manager Robert Layton today announced the hiring of Jennifer Magana as City
Attorney and Director of Law. Magana has worked in the Office of the Sedgwick
County Counselor since 1996 and served as Deputy County Counselor since 2000.
Her duties there include providing legal counsel to Sedgwick County
Commissioners and numerous county departments in employment law, public safety
issues, contract law and general local government law. Before joining Sedgwick
County, Magana served as a City Prosecutor for the City of Wichita from
1993-1996.
“Jennifer
brings outstanding qualifications and experience to what is a very important
role at the City of Wichita,” said City Manager Robert Layton. “She has a
strong record of public service and community commitment, and we are honored to
welcome her back to the team.”
As
the Director of Law, Magana will manage 26 staffers and a $2.6 million
departmental budget. She will oversee the City’s Civil and Criminal Division.
The Civil Division provides legal advice, drafts and reviews contracts, renders
legal opinions, and conducts litigation; the Criminal Division prosecutes
criminal, traffic, domestic violence and environmental cases in Municipal
Court, as well as maintains office hours to assist citizens on a walk-in basis.
“I’m
excited to be joining the City of Wichita in this position. City Hall has
many dedicated and talented employees with whom I look forward to working with
for many years. This position will present various opportunities and
challenges that I am eager to undertake. The City’s law department does vital
work every day and I want to ensure that it delivers those services at a high
level. I’m looking forward to serving the City Council and working closely
with City Manager Robert Layton to serve citizens of Wichita.”
Magana
earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Kansas State University in 1990 and
a juris doctor degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1992.
She’s
been an active member of the community, serving on boards and working with
numerous civic groups. She’s a member of the Wichita Bar Association, the
Kansas Bar Association, County Counselors’ Association of Kansas, Wichita
Festivals, Inc. Board of Directors, the Wichita Women Attorneys Association,
and Sedgwick County 4-H.
Her
awards and accomplishments include having been a Wichita Business Journal “40 Under
40” honoree, a Sedgwick County Excellence in Public Service Award honoree, and
a recipient of the Wichita Bar Association President’s Award.