Mayor Stephanie Terry today announced that Sarah Dauer will join her team as the city’s Corporation Counsel.

A native of Evansville, Dauer attended Dexter Elementary, Washington Middle, and Memorial High School. She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and her law degree from the University of Tulsa.

Since moving back to Evansville, Sarah served as In-House Counsel at Shoe Carnival for 8 years and later as Associate Counsel at Reckitt. She cares deeply about Evansville and the overall welfare of its citizens, animals and environment, and has served on various community and civic boards including YMCA, Holly’s House, Ark Crisis Child Care Center, Leadership Evansville and the Board of Parks Commissioners.

Her first day with the city will be Monday, March 4.

 “I’m thrilled to advocate for Evansville and to work in the Terry Administration,” Dauer said.

Her hiring represents a departure from the city’s legal structure under recent administrations, in which an external corporation counsel had the ability to delegate legal work as he or she saw fit. Earlier this month, Mayor Terry indicated that her administration would instead hire an in-house Corporation Counsel, a structure used by cities like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Bloomington.

“As Corporation Counsel, Sarah Dauer will be an integral part of our full-time team,” Mayor Terry said. “By having her in the Civic Center with us every day, and with her sole focus being the legal needs of the city, both my office and our city department heads will have constant contact and access to  counsel.

“Sarah brings a deep set of legal expertise and will guide Evansville through the process of forming its in-house legal team.  I am grateful to have a fresh legal perspective to help us move forward as a city. I want to thank Marco Delucio of Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders LLP for his years of service representing Evansville as our contracted City Attorney.”

This does not, however, mean that the City of Evansville would end its relationship with all outside firms. Outside counsel will still be used for subject matter expertise and bid work on an as-needed basis.