Staff List
Lee Ann Anderson, Senior Assistant County Attorney
Police; Human Resources (including Schools)
Sharon O. Eichler, Secretary
Ellen R. Fulmer, Assistant County Attorney
Social Services; Comprehensive Services Act; Court Services; Va. Juvenile Community Crime Control Act
Leonora A. Gray, Secretary
Karen W. Grizzard, Business Supervisor
Jason M. Hart, Assistant County Attorney
Bankruptcy; Real Property; Intellectual Property; Risk Management
Tinesha M. Jackson, Paralegal
Bankruptcy
Donna L. Melton, Secretary
Marissa D. Mitchell, Assistant County Attorney
Social Services; Libraries; Fire; Recreation and Parks; Mental Health; Risk Management
Kimberly A. Mulligan, Senior Assistant County Attorney
General Services; Construction; Risk Management
Andrew R. Newby, Assistant County Attorney
Police; Registrar; Sheriff; Community Corrections; Finance (Revenue Division); Risk Management
Pamela J. Otey, Paralegal
Litigation
Joseph P. Rapisarda, Jr., County Attorney
Board of Supervisors; County Manager's Office; and Department Heads
E. Garry Soles, Paralegal
Litigation
Rhysa G. South, Senior Assistant County Attorney
Bankruptcy; Real Property; Finance (Treasury); Economic Development; Bonds
Benjamin A. Thorp, Assistant County Attorney
Public Utilities; Public Works; Building Inspections; CATC; Risk Management
J. T. (Tom) Tokarz, Deputy County Attorney
Community Revitalization; Planning; Information Technology; Eminent Domain
Melissa K. Velazquez, Assistant County Attorney
Education (general & special)
Joseph P. Rapisarda, Jr.
County Attorney
Date Joined County: March, 1977; County Attorney since 1982
Education: B. A. with high distinction, University of Virginia (1972); J.D., University of Virginia (1975)
Previous Experience: Associate, May, Miller & Parsons (1975 - 1977)
Positions Held: Professional Associations and Positions Held: Virginia Law Foundation Fellow; Chair, Virginia State Bar Third District Committee, Section I (2007-11); Supreme Court of Virginia Professionalism Course Faculty (2001-04); Chair, Standing Committee on Legal Ethics, Virginia State Bar (1999-2000); Board of Directors, Richmond Bar Association (1998-2002); Chair, Local Government Law Section, Virginia State Bar (1996-97); Recipient, Edward J. Finnegan Distinguished Service Award (1996); President, Henrico Bar Association (1992-93); President, Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (1990-91).
Licensed to practice in: Supreme Court of the United States; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia.J. T. (Tom) Tokarz
Deputy County Attorney
Date Joined County: July, 1980
Education: B. B. A., College of William and Mary (1973); J.D., University of Virginia (1976)
Previous Experience: Staff Accountant, Price Waterhouse & Co. (1978-80); Executive Director, Legal Services Corporation of Virginia (1976-78)
Outside activities and positions:Virginia State Bar Special Committee on Law and Technology (2003-06); President, Virginia School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys (1991); Lecturer, U. S. Department of Justice Division of Continuing Education, Washington D.C. (1984-90); Technology Columnist, Virginia Bar News (1982-86)
National and state presentations: Presenter, National School Boards Association School Law Conferences (Seattle 2009, Austin 2007, Chicago 2006); Consortium for School Networking (Arlington 2008); Virginia State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee (Williamsburg 2008); Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (state conferences)
Licensed to practice in: Supreme Court of the United States; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U. S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia.
Lee Ann Anderson
Senior Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: June, 2009
Education: B. A., College of William & Mary (1991); M.I.A., Columbia University (1993); J.D., New York University School of Law (1999)
Previous Experience: Associate General Counsel, Circuit City Stores, Inc. (2007-09); Senior Associate, ReedSmith LLP (2006-07); Associate, Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler, LLP (1999-2006).
Licensed to practice in: Virginia and New York; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
Kimberly A. Mulligan
Senior Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: July, 2011
Education: B. S. (with Honors), University of Florida (1994); J.D., George Washington University Law School (2000)
Previous Experience: Partner, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, L.L.P., 2009-2011; Associate, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, L.L.P., 2002-2009; Law Clerk to the Honorable Marcus D. Williams, 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia (Fairfax Circuit Court), 2000-2002.
Licensed to practice in: U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia
Rhysa G. South
Senior Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: January, 1987
Education: B. S. (cum laude), Ohio Wesleyan University (1983); J.D., University of Richmond (1986)
Previous Experience: Associate, Robert K. Caudle, Jr. & Associates, P.C. (1986-87); Chicago Title (1984-85)
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Virginia Law Foundation Fellow; Immediate-Past President Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (LGA) and Board Liaison to the Practice Groups (2010-11): LGA President (2009-10); Virginia State Bar (VSB) Council Representative, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (2003-09); Chair-LGA Finance Committee (2008-09); LGA Vice President (2008-09); Member, VSB Disciplinary Board (2005-08); LGA Secretary-Treasurer (2007-08);Chair-LGA Ethics Committee (2004-08), Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association (MRWBA) Law Student Mentor (2007-08); LGA Board of Directors (2003-07); Vice Chair-Board of Governors, VSB Local Government Law Section (2005-06); VSB Bar Counsel Search Committee (2006); Recipient, LGA Cherin Award for An Outstanding Deputy or Assistant Local Government Attorney (2005); Chair-VSB Committee on Lawyer Discipline ("COLD") (2002-03); Chair-LGA Publications Committee (2002-04), Chair-LGA Awards Committee (2003), MemberVSB Procedural Rules Committee (2000-02); Chair-VSB COLD Oversight Committee (2001-02); MRWBA Judicial Nominations Committee (1998-02); President, Henrico County Bar Association (1996-97); MRWBA Long Range Planning Committee (1997); Chair-VSB Third District Committee (1994-95); MRWBA Emergency Shelter Subcommittee (1990-95); LGA Membership Outreach Committee (1990-94); MRWBA Judicial Candidate Development Committee (Secretary 1993-94); MRWBA Special Olympics Subcommittee (1990-92); MRWBA Public Service Committee (1990-92).
Licensed to practice in: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia.
Ellen R. Fulmer
Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: March, 2000
Education: B. A., Pennsylvania State University (1991); J.D. (cum laude), University of Richmond (1997)
Previous Experience: Law Clerk, Supreme Court of Virginia (1997-2000).
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Henrico Bar Association: President, (2007-08), President Elect (2006-07), Vice President (2005-06), Secretary (2004-05), Board Member (2000-04).
Licensed to practice in: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia.
Jason M. Hart
Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: June, 2011
Education: B.A., James Madison University (2005); J.D., Pennsylvania State University – Dickinson School of Law (2008)
Previous Experience: Associate, Billy & Seli, P.C. (2010-2011); Staff Attorney, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2008-2010).
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Member, Richmond Bar Association; Member, Henrico Bar Association
Licensed to practice in: U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia.
Marissa D. Mitchell
Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: August, 2003
Education: B. S. W. (cum laude), University of Mississippi (1996); J.D., University of Mississippi (1999)
Previous Experience: Associate, Wright, Robinson, Osthimer & Tatum (2001-03); Administrative Law Judge for the Mississippi Department of Human Services (1999-2000)
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Local Government Attorneys of Virginia: Vice Chair, Pro Bono Committee (2007-08); Member, Pro Bono Committee (2006-07); Henrico Bar Association: Secretary (2010-11); Treasurer (2009-10); Board Member (2008-09)
Licensed to practice in: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; Supreme Court of Virginia; Supreme Court of Mississippi
Andrew R. Newby
Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: June, 2010
Education: B. A., University of Virginia (2005); J.D. (summa cum laude), University of Richmond School of Law (2009)
Previous Experience: Law Clerk to the Honorable Michael C. Allen, Chesterfield County Circuit Court (2009-10).
Licensed to practice in: Supreme Court of Virginia.
Benjamin A. Thorp
Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: March, 2008
Education: B.S., Virginia Tech (1995); J.D. University of Richmond (2000)
Previous Experience: Associate, McSweeney, Burtch & Crump (2000-01); Member, Ellis & Thorp, PLLC (2001-08)
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Richmond Area Committee, member (2002-present), Chair (2005-07).
Licensed to practice in: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Supreme Court of Virginia.
Melissa K. Velazquez
Assistant County Attorney
Date Joined County: March, 2009
Education: B. A. (summa cum laude),
Previous Experience: Senior Policy Analyst, Virginia Department of Education (2001-09); J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Adjunct Instructor (2006-Present); Complaints and Due Process Specialist, Virginia Department of Education, (2000-01)
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Member Virginia State Bar (1999); Member Henrico Bar Association (2009).
Licensed to practice in: Supreme Court of Virginia.
E. Garry Soles
Paralegal: Litigation
Date Joined County: February, 1999
Education: Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base (Alabama)
Previous Experience: Paralegal, Mays & Valentine, L.L.P.; (199899); Paralegal, Hutchens & Hutchens (1994-98); Paralegal, U. S. Air Force, JAG Corps (1982-94)
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Local Government Paralegal Association of Virginia Inc. Board of Directors (2009 to present); Member of the Richmond Paralegal Association; Member of the Virginia Alliance Paralegal Association.
Pamela J. Otey
Paralegal: Litigation
Date Joined County: April, 2002
Education: B.S. in Governmental Administration, Concentration in Legal Studies (ABA approved, Pre-Law Program), Christopher Newport University (1998)
Previous Experience: Paralegal/Office Manager, Saunders Law Office (1998-2000); Paralegal, Brenner, Evans & Yoffy, P.C. (2000-2002).
Tinesha M. Jackson
Paralegal: Bankruptcy
Date Joined County: June 2008
Education: A.A.S. Degree in Paralegal Studies Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood, NY
Previous Experience: Legal Assistant/Community Education Coordinator, Legal Aid Justice Center (2005-08); Litigation Paralegal, Law Offices of Carman, Callahan & Ingham LLP (1998-2004)
Karen W. Grizzard
Business Supervisor
Date Joined County: September, 1978
Education: B. A., James Madison University (1976)
Previous Experience: Executive secretary, U. S. Tobacco Company (1976 - 1978)
Professional Associations and Positions Held: Member, Family Friendly Task Force, County of Henrico (1992); Member, Travel Policy Task Force, County of Henrico (1996). Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services Board: Appointed by the Henrico County Board of Supervisors on March 25, 2003. Chair (2010); Vice Chair (2008, 2009); member, Retreat Committee (2008); member, Executive Committee (2006-present); member, Nominating Committee (2006). Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, Inc.: First Vice Chair (2010-12); Chair, By-Laws Review Committee (2009-10); Executive Committee (2008-present); Secretary (2008-10); Board of Directors, Region IV Representative (2006-08).