The City of Winlock will have to seek new legal counsel after Jim Buzzard, of the Buzzard Law Group in Centralia, abruptly announced his intention to resign from the Winlock city attorney position and walked out of the Monday, July 27, Winlock City Council meeting.
Buzzard cited ongoing conflict with Winlock Mayor Victoria Marincin.
Buzzard’s resignation wasn’t the only departure announced at the meeting, as Winlock City Councilor Jess Bowers said he would be submitting a resignation letter of his own.
Bowers said he began a new job on Aug. 24 and is moving outside of city limits. He asked for interested residents to apply to the vacancy, but cautioned the job was not for the faint of heart.
“This is a lot harder than people think. A lot harder than people think. Nobody here does it for the money, because believe me, it’s not worth it. But thank you. It’s been a privilege,” Bowers said.
He added he had several projects he hoped to accomplish before resigning from his seat — including Winlock Community Building restorations, which he discussed later during the meeting. His last meeting will be on Aug. 10.
During the meeting, Winlock City Councilor Jodie Curtis was nominated to be the new mayor pro tem, and the council unanimously appointed her to the position.
Previously, former Winlock City Councilor Jeramy Allman was Winlock’s mayor pro tem, but he was deemed ineligible for his seat, and the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has accepted applications to fill the vacancy.
Though the BOCC’s application period for Winlock residents interested in being appointed to the vacant council seat ended on July 23, no announcement has been made as to when the commissioners will hold public candidate interviews before selecting an appointee as required by state law.
Also during the meeting, a public hearing was held for a proposed traffic revision on the streets surrounding the Winlock Elementary School, with two residents speaking on it.
Discussion was held on proposed renovations to both the Winlock Community Building and its historical designation sign, with the council ultimately deciding to gather more information on renovation costs.
Winlock city attorney resigns
Buzzard made his announcement at the beginning of the meeting following Marincin’s mayoral report.
Marincin is still in her first year in office, having been sworn in at the end of December 2025. During her report, she once again brought up issues she was having with the city attorney.
“After I was elected mayor, council and attorney passed a new contract that changed the mayor’s authority — and transferred responsibilities that had traditionally belonged to the mayor, and limited the executive branch’s ability to community and direct the attorney,” Marincin said. “During the council’s discussion for the legal contract for Buzzard Law, a councilman asked if there were any substantive changes. The response given did not disclose that the contract removed the mayor’s authority to direct legal services, and shifted that authority elsewhere. As a result, I believe many councilmembers did not understand the practical effect the contract would have on our form of government. For approximately six months, legal matters have proceeded without my knowledge or participation. During my first meeting with the city attorney, I asked if there was any pending litigation. And I was told there was not. Today, we are having an executive meeting for a lawsuit I had no knowledge of until this emergency request.”
She claimed because of the city attorney contract changes, she has been left to largely do her own research for legal matters.
“Imagine trying to fulfill your statutory duties while being denied the same access to legal counsel that previous mayors relied upon,” Marincin said.
Buzzard took issue with her claims.
“This is the third, maybe fourth time, that the mayor has publicly made false statements to the public about myself, my office, scapegoating me. And what she’s saying here today is not true,” Buzzard said. “There was a spectacle two weeks ago that she put on, not allowing my office to provide legal advice to the council who we represent in that instance. She got in the way of that, actively. And now, today, for public face for herself, she’s again scapegoating me. My office doesn’t need to put up with this. We’ve been publicly embarrassed by this mayor so many times. We’ve tried to be professional with her — it’s not possible. I’m resigning. I’ll give you the proper letter that you need, but we just can’t take this from you anymore. So I’m gonna exit myself today.”
Per the city’s contract with the Buzzard Law Group, attorneys from the firm will still provide legal representation and advice for 90 days following the date on the official resignation letter, allowing the city time to find new legal representation.
The “spectacle” Buzzard accused Marincin of putting on was an incident during the start of the previous Winlock City Council meeting on July 13, when Marincin prevented Dana Williams, another member of the Buzzard Law Group, from distributing a legal memorandum to the councilors and vocally opposed Williams’ proposal for the council to call an executive session to discuss the BOCC’s removal of Allman from the council.
“At the last meeting, I allowed my frustration to overcome my better judgement when I took out papers presented by Mr. (Dana) Williams. I should not have done that, and I apologize to the citizens of Winlock for losing my composure. I hold myself to a higher standard and will continue working to meet that standard,” Marincin said during her report on July 27.
She also stated if the status quo contract with the Buzzard Law Group remained in place, she was considering hiring independent legal representation herself, though it is not her preference.
“My preference is to restore a working relationship in which the mayor receives appropriate legal advice, the council fulfills its legislative responsibilities, and we work together for the benefit of the community,” Marincin added.
She asked the council to consider re-adopting the provisions from the old city attorney contract. However, since Buzzard announced his resignation, that no longer appears to be necessary for Marincin.
Buzzard’s resignation comes after Marincin had already tried to terminate the city attorney contract in her first few months in office earlier this year. During the council’s regular meeting on Feb. 23, Marincin placed proposals to terminate the contract with Buzzard Law Group and seek new legal representation, but Allman, still on the council at the time, motioned to amend the agenda to remove the proposals, a motion which was approved.
At the meeting before that, on Feb. 9, Marincin brought up the contract changes. While Marincin claimed the contract changes have hindered her from contacting the city attorney for legal advice, Buzzard previously stated the contract changes simply made it easier for other city staff to contact him.
“The clerk can’t call the attorney. Public works can’t call the attorney. Community development cannot call the attorney, unless they have the mayor’s approval first,” Buzzard said during the Feb. 9 meeting. “That was removed. Why? Because in form and practice over the years, that’s not even practical, and it’s never used.”
Aside from having represented Winlock, the Buzzard Law Group still represents the cities of Morton, Mossyrock, Toledo and Napavine in Lewis County, and the Town of Bucoda in Thurston County.
