ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
Roy Thorpe, Montgomery County's legal adviser since 1984, has resigned to become city attorney for Falls Church.
Thorpe, 49, sent his letter of resignation to county officials this week, Board of Supervisors Chairman Henry Jablonski said Thursday.
"We hate to see him go. I think he's been a real effective [county] attorney," Jablonski said. "I think he's given us good counsel generally and he's served the county well. We're going to miss him."
Before coming to Montgomery County, Thorpe was Bedford's part-time city attorney for 11 years and was an assistant commonwealth's attorney for Bedford from 1973-76.
"This was a wonderful career opportunity," Thorpe said Thursday of the new job.
Last year Thorpe made an unsuccessful challenge for the Democratic nomination for commonwealth's attorney. Incumbent Phil Keith held off Thorpe's bid and defeated a Republican candidate last fall to win re-election.
Thorpe serves as vice president of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, a 539-member group of lawyers who represent cities, counties and towns across the state, and others in private practice who specialize in local government matters.
Thorpe, whose resignation from the county is effective May 31, will start his new job June 3. Falls Church is a densely populated city of approximately 10,000 surrounded by Fairfax and Arlington counties in Northern Virginia. Thorpe will serve as attorney for both the city and its independent school system.
Thorpe, along with County Administrator Betty Thomas, is one of Montgomery County's top two employees who report directly to the Board of Supervisors.
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: headshot of Thorpeby CNB