Andrew L. Romanet Jr. (aromanet@nclm.org • 919-715-3935)
General Counsel

Chief counsel and lobbyist for the League. Oversees legal assistance to cities and towns, including inquiry service, charter revisions, and other forms of legal assistance to League members. Directs legal research activities and amicus brief program. Provides legal assistance to Risk Management Services. Overall management of League’s lobbying activities in the General Assembly; assists members in development of legislative goals and policy; oversees League assistance in state regulatory matters; and oversees staff support of legislative development process. Staff to N.C. Association of Municipal Attorneys.

Kimberly Smith Hibbard (khibbard@nclm.org • 919-715-3936)
Associate General Counsel

Handles legal and legislative inquiries and provides a variety of assistance to membership, including legal advice and analysis, research, charter revisions and special publications. Lobbies for municipal interests in the General Assembly and asists members in development of legislative policies. Staff to Planning and Service Legislative Action and Technical Advisory Committees and to the N.C. Association of Municipal Clerks.

John M. Phelps II (jphelps@nclm.org • 919-715-3920)
Senior Assistant General Counsel

Handles legal inquiries and provides variety of legal assistance to member cities and towns, including legal inquiries, research and charter revisions. Supports League lobbying and advocacy work and assists members in development of legislative goals. Staff to Finance and Administration Legislative Action and Technical Advisory committees.

Gregg Schwitzgebel (gschwitz@nclm.org • 919-715-3937)
Senior Assistant General Counsel

Handles legal inquiries and provides variety of legal assistance to member cities and towns, including legal inquiries, research and charter revisions. Prepares monthly publication, Law Notes. Supports League lobbying and advocacy work and assists members in development of legislative goals. Staff to Finance and Administration Legislative Action and Technical Advisory committees.

Meenal Khajuria (mkhajuria@nclm.org 919-715- 3911
Policy Analyst for the N.C. Metropolitan Coalition

Assists the Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the NC Metropolitan Coalition in providing research services, policy advice and assistance to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the NC Metropolitan Coalition, an affiliate organization of the League. Assists in the operation of the coalition.

Robin Cox (rcox@nclm.org • 919-715-0950)
Legal Administrative Assistant

Serves as primary support for the Legal, State and Regional Affairs Department. Maintains the League’s legislative bill tracking database; inputs and updates bill information and prints and distributes reports. Prepares Legislative Bulletin for printing.

Anita Watkins (awatkins@nclm.org • 919-715-3930)
Manager of State and Regional Affairs

Monitors and works with state agencies and regulatory bodies to ensure that cities and towns have a voice in the formation of rules and regulations affecting them. Staff liaison with state departments and agencies. Informs and advises membership of potential impact of state and federal regulations. Liaison to councils of government and Joint Regional Forum. Staff to Planning and Services Legislative and Technical Advisory committees.