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Suspended city attorney Lenkowsky back at work

By Tony Waggoner
Thursday, October 9, 2008 9:27 PM MST

After two months of being sidelined from work, Lake Havasu City Attorney Paul Lenkowsky is glad to be back on the job.

“I sincerely look forward to returning to my municipal practice and appearing at the next City Council meeting and working as hard as I know how to provide competent advise to Lake Havasu,” Lenkowsky said.

Lenkowsky returned to work Oct. 1 after he voluntarily accepted a 90-day suspension of his license to practice law from the State Bar Association. The suspension ran from July 1 through the end of September.

Assistant City Attorney Kelly Gary served in the interim as acting City Attorney.

Lenkowsky has been placed on a two-year probation, which is often standard when a lawyer’s license is suspended.

“As far I know it is (standard),” Lenkowsky said. “Within the context it means that is how long I have to complete various programs and participate in certain services.”

Several city matters have required immediate attention, since Lenkowsky returned. He noted the lease agreements with the Food Bank and DT Aero, amendments with the Legal Arizona Workers Act, revisions to the city’s Cabaret code and the merger between Allied Waste Services and Republic Services as items that would be or have been addressed.

Lenkowsky’s suspension stemmed from two separate incidents that occurred within Lenkowsky’s Bullhead City law firm between 1999 and 2001. Both incidents regarded billing issues with Lenkowsky’s firm.

Lenkowsky told the Today’s News-Herald in June he could have contested both incidents but felt is was more important that he put it behind him and move on.

He also stated he and his firm have investigated the incidents at great length to safeguard any problems that might arise in the future.

“I’ve taken great care to think as thoroughly as I know how to about what happened,” Lenkowsky said.

Assistant City Attorney Kelly Gary served in the interim as acting City Attorney.

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Reader Comments

LOL wrote on Oct 25, 2008 11:20 PM:

" hmmm. Dessert rat says he defends the justice system because it is not corrupt. Did he even bother to read the headline if the article!!! LOL "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 25, 2008 7:51 PM:

" babes in the channel? appears only the posters on here are obsessed with pasties! Might want to try Vegas for your fun if that is what interests you~! "

what a silly statement you make Rat wrote on Oct 24, 2008 1:59 PM:

" I am thankful I do not have to call LHCPD for any reason. The response time from the channel to my house is a long one! I am sure someone breaking in my house is not as sexy as the babes in the channel. Good thing I am fully prepared to defend me and my own. "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 20, 2008 10:25 AM:

" no PD- I hope you are never the victim of a crime. Then you would see what the police 'don't do for you.' It's a little more than interupt your rowdy, partying behavior in the channel, I can assure you. "

no PD would mean wrote on Oct 19, 2008 6:30 PM:

" dessert, no cops mean that we would have to fill out our own reports to file and do nothing about!! Otherwise you are still going to defend yourself from home intruders and protect your property.
Nothing really changes.
Other than the courts will be without funding. "

full disclosure wrote on Oct 18, 2008 5:44 PM:

" Here is the latest:

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dc/2008_scanned/DC_Reports/Lenkowsky_DC_rpt.pdf "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 18, 2008 6:36 AM:

" John Q- yeah, keep cutting the budget. Then the whiners will have no PD to turn to when thier 'fun times' in the channel turn on them. No cops to call when they are raped, beat, robbed. But boy, there sure will be alot of 'tourists.' "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 18, 2008 6:34 AM:

" Making the public aware? Scare tourists away so we can say 'see we told you so' - real productive! People already recognize that this bashing is driving the tourists away. "Airing dirty laundry" as you call it, is good for tourism? Sure. But blame it on the PD. Has nothing to do with all this negative publicity. Sure. Keep spewing your negativity, that is postivie promotion for our community. Sure. "

John Q wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:58 PM:

" We should have rejected him AND the city manager when we had a chance! Instead the room was filled with the people that are bringing Havasu down! All looking at the negative. Be positive! Even during this hard time the City Manager isn't laying people off. He is just cutting everyones funding so all departments can't function properly. Maybe he should run for president! "

Tim T wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:42 PM:

" How do you know I haven't? There is no harm in making the public aware ALSO!! And we should CONTINUE until the the bad apples are gone.
There is NOTHING wrong in stating an opinion you don't like rat. Especially when the FACTS as posted by cindy are on this side of the fence on this issue "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 17, 2008 6:05 PM:

" Tim T- then write letters to the powers that be, or better yet attend meetings, ask for a sit down with superiors, show proof, facts. Anonymous bashing of our community is cowardly and counter productive. "

Tim T wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:49 PM:

" Hey Dessertrat, Cindy is NOT alone! Get over it. I would rather out the problem so we can honestly discuss how to solve. Hiding a problem NEVER makes it better. Keep in talking Cindy!! "

OLD MAN wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:08 AM:

" I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT VISITORS TO THE CITY. I LIVE HERE AND I WANT HONEST GOVERNMENT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT BY NOT FIRING THIS GUY, WE DON'T HAVE IT.
IT IS NO WONDER WE KEEP HAVING RECALLS. "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 17, 2008 6:48 AM:

" Cindy - I know the City is having problems. I also know that placing blame on the people who serve the city is not always the answer. Placing blame never solves anything. Bashing our community on the internet, to everyone you talk to, under every single article is not helping our community. Therefore, you are adding to the problemes here. Plus - it must be a miserable way to live. Go out and enjoy our city, or find a way to relocate. But bashing and being miserable for years is not productive. "

Cindy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:26 PM:

" It is nice that people see how much trouble the city is in. Maybe someday even Dessertrat will have some common sense donated to him. Until then it is nice to see you under whatever name you post Irish. "

Desertrat wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:31 AM:

" boy - the poster with a million names is singing Cindy's praises. Wonder why? She didn't post under this article. At least not with that name. hmmm "

truth in humor wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:21 PM:

" That is funny, rubber hose! I get it. "

well knock me over with a rubber hose wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:14 PM:

" gee, a less than steller person working the money machine that is Havasu justice? Well why am I not surprised. Cindy had it right. "

Glad I dont live in Havasu wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:01 PM:

" this has been going on for YEARS! This is nothing new people! The City knew the entire time and did not care! His 90 day suspension was during the summer when he normally takes vacation. His office in Bullhead City remained OPEN!!!! This was NOT A PUNISHMENT AT ALL!!! Open your eyes people - this is who you have in Lake Havasu? Obviously City Council thinks Lake Havasu City isn't worth having an attorney who is ethical....go figure.... "

candor wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:20 PM:

" Here is the link to the report of the Arizona Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. He is not candid in his statements to the newspaper. Why isn't he being fired?

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dc/pdf/Lenkowski_HO.pdf

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dc/recentlyfiledreportsandorders.htm "

truth411 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:37 PM:

" Please read the court order for Paul's sanction (especially page 5):
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dc/pdf/Lenkowski_HO.pdf

City Council and City Manager will not take action on this until someone goes to a city council meeting and complains about this guy during the call to the public (tonight at 5pm or every two weeks) Please someone be a hero and step up to that podium and make this wrong alright! If someone off the street did this, they would be in jail right now!!!!! Don't let him get away with this .... "

birdman wrote on Oct 13, 2008 3:25 PM:

" This is incredible , I am licenced by a stste agency to perform my job , If I were santioned or suspended from performing the duties I was hired to perform ,I wouldn,t have a job , my boss (whom I respect , and actually like a little bit) would fire me , and I could,nt fault him for doing so. Why is this chump still on the payroll? What wieght will his legal opinions have in the future? "

Money Pit wrote on Oct 13, 2008 2:04 PM:

" This town is so messed up. Between this city attorney, the city magistrate, the city police, the city Fire/rescue. The services go down as the price goes up, the tourist have stopped coming because of whatever reason. What a money pitt this place has turned too. I can't afford to leave but would love too. "

Jorge wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:00 AM:

" Crazy how little negative media surfaced during this suspension. I wonder who the city manger and his lawyer buddy have ties with at the newspaper? "

QUIT SNIVELING wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:19 AM:

" Everyone needs to hush up! The City Attorney is hired by the City Manager. This would be the same City Manager you all recently supported at a council meeting when his head was on a chopping block. Only one female City Council gal said anything bad, therefore, you all MUST accept any decision he makes. Seems reasonable to deduce Kaffy hired Lenkowski as the result of a prior working or friendship in BHC years ago. "

HOW DO I LOOK wrote on Oct 12, 2008 4:03 PM:

" WOW, We should be proud and honored that he took a voluntary suspension. That's just like the time I took a voluntary suspension in High School. NOT. I did not have a choice then and he didn't now. Now we can watch him admiring his boss ( who lays on the table like he can't hold his own weight up ) at council meetings, run this city further in to the ground as more money gets spent on outside studies and keep it in the family sewer work. As for any media, it's a lost profession of honest,fair reporting that is BIASED and OPPINIONATED constantly showing favoritism. Excuse me again, I must vomit. "

throw the bums out. wrote on Oct 12, 2008 2:23 PM:

" A Police department that is slap with responsibility in a civil case, a reprimanded Judge, a suspended city attorney.

Who was wrong about a problem with the city justice system? It is time to accept that a problem exist, fire the offending people, and replace them with good lawful civil servants. "

No more coffee for him wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:13 AM:

" Why he was out, the city was using 20% less coffee. He should pay for the difference! "

What is wrong with this town wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:11 AM:

" Why can not get a descent judje or a city attorney in town? "

not suprised wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:25 PM:

" This "attorney" is a joke! He needs to be fired. He can go back to being an incompetent divorce attorney! Go back to Bullhead Lenkowsky Havasu doesn't need anymore dishonest employees. "

Call wrote on Oct 11, 2008 2:41 PM:

" Call the Arizona Bar. Attorneys who have been censured--that's public information. "

an era wrote on Oct 11, 2008 12:43 PM:

" questionable investigations, suspended city attorney's, reprimanded Judges, clouds around police honesty and fire department ethics.

The Kaffenburger era.... "

Confusedonlegalese wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:53 AM:

" Let's see, the first paragraph says 2 months off, the third paragraph says 90 days, and even says voluntary... Yeah, voluntary as in, take it or leave your license by the door. What is most insulting is that this paper only printed the press release from this man when he was being suspended. Has anyone ever heard of INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM!?!?!? In 3 minutes I had more info from the state bar website than his self-serving press release drivel we all read in the paper a week prior to when the paper printed it. Shame on you, TODAY NEWS HERALD.
I am still waiting for someone to print how much he has been paid by the city thus far, NOT what the contract says he's supposed to be paid, but as long as the city manager and he are best buds,I doubt that info will be released. "

tax paying citizen wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:53 PM:

" It looks like this would have been a great opportunity for the city to save some money, but he's probably got it in with the city manager. "

PULLEEEEZ wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:53 PM:

" From one who works w/ attorneys all the time--A three-month suspension is NOT a slap on the wrist. This is serious stuff, people, and this is the type of help that OUR DEAR CITY has?? Ridiculous. "

Only Just Competent wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:47 AM:

" Price is what you pay, value is what you get. "

snowbird wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:26 AM:

" So...was this guy PAID to not hang around for 3 months? Did Havasu KNOW about the pending litigation before hiring him, prior to taking on this conflict-of-interests issue? "

Huh wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:04 AM:

" He "voluntarily accepted" a 90-day suspension???? Didn't this newspaper say he was taking a vacation??? And, just so you know, the State Bar doesn't just suspended someone for a "minor clerical error". This man is not good for this City - keep Kelly Gary as the City Attorney. She's been doing a good job. "

competence at work wrote on Oct 10, 2008 5:59 AM:

" The city govt is just full of competence, isn't it? "

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