Clearwater has a new top lawyer. The City Council voted unanimously July 16 to select Owen Kohler, 49, as the city's permanent city attorney after interviewing four finalists earlier that day.

From assistant to the top job

Kohler has served as interim city attorney since February, when he took over after former City Attorney David Margolis resigned in December 2025. He first joined Clearwater's legal department in 2018 as an assistant city attorney and was promoted to lead assistant city attorney in December 2019.

The appointment ends a period of turnover in the office. The city hired Margolis in 2021; before him, one attorney held the post for 27 years.

"He's going into it with eyes wide open, as far as the challenges we face," Mayor Bruce Rector said. "He's helped navigate us through many of those."

What he's already handled

Vice Mayor Ryan Cotton praised Kohler's work on several high-profile matters during his interim tenure, including a new Duke Energy service contract, funding for renovations to the Philadelphia Phillies' spring training complex, and a citizen-led ballot effort focused on sales of public rights-of-way downtown. Cotton said Kohler remained "prepared, composed and focused on providing clear legal advice" through each of those issues.

Before coming to Clearwater, Kohler served as assistant city attorney in Hialeah and as general counsel for the Tampa Police Benevolent Association. He has more than 20 years of legal experience.

At the July 16 special work session, Kohler told the council his first-year priorities would include providing stability, keeping current city projects moving, and helping onboard two new council members set to join the dais later in 2026, he said.

The vote is not yet final. The council directed staff to draft an employment agreement with Kohler and will need to vote again on those terms to make the appointment official.

The next regular City Council meeting is Aug. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Main Library Council Chambers, 100 N. Osceola Ave. Residents can submit written comments on agenda items via eComments through Granicus or by emailing [email protected]. Comments received by 5 p.m. the day before a meeting become part of the official record.