Grand Rapids announces finalists for next city attorney

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City of Grand Rapids today announced the finalists for the position of City Attorney, the City’s chief legal officer. Three candidates will advance in the public selection process: Matthew Cross, Sarah Hartman and Philip Strom.

Matthew Cross

Matthew Cross is a southwest Michigan native and municipal law attorney with more than a decade of experience representing cities, counties and public agencies. A partner at Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, P.L.C., he advises local governments on charter review, employment and constitutional law, the Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act, contracts and zoning. He currently serves as general counsel to multiple municipalities and public entities and has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts. Cross has a strong record of public service through local fire service and legal and nonprofit board roles. He is a graduate of Ferris State University and Wayne State University Law School and has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and Michigan Super Lawyers for his work in municipal law.

Sarah Hartman

Sarah Hartman has been a Michigan attorney since 2008 and has served the City of Grand Rapids since 2020. She is currently the City’s director of legal affairs for the Civil Litigation Division, where she manages all litigation involving the City and oversees in‑house and outside counsel. Hartman previously served as assistant city attorney III and has advised City leaders on a broad range of municipal, employment and civil rights matters. Her background includes private practice in civil litigation, labor and employment law and municipal law. A longtime West Michigan resident, she brings extensive experience in government‑specific legal issues, including FOIA, the Open Meetings Act and collective bargaining. She also serves on the State Bar’s Character and Fitness Committee.

Philip Strom

Philip Strom is the interim city attorney for Grand Rapids, where he leads the Department of Law and provides comprehensive legal and policy guidance to the City Commission and executive leadership. Previously, he served six years as deputy city attorney, overseeing three legal divisions, coordinating FOIA, and managing major initiatives involving litigation, labor relations, citywide policy and emergency operations. Strom’s career includes executive leadership roles as county administrator and chief financial officer for Delta County, as well as service as the elected prosecuting attorney. He is active in professional and community organizations, including serving as president‑elect of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Strom lives in Eastown with his family.

Next steps in the hiring process

The City will host a public forum on Monday, March 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. Greg Nelson of Mosaic Public Partners will host the event following a structured town hall format. Candidates will respond to questions drawn from community submissions.

Community members are invited to help shape the forum by submitting topics and questions through an online questionnaire available now through Monday, March 23 at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JZYMS6H.

Following the public forum, the City Commission will conduct finalist interviews on Tuesday, March 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A public deliberation session will follow on Wednesday, April 1 from 9 to 11 a.m.

All public meetings – including the March 30 forum, March 31 interviews and April 1 deliberations – will air on Comcast Channel 26 and stream live on the City of Grand Rapids Facebook and YouTube channels.

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