Former Joliet city manager to step in as Lockport city attorney

The Lockport City Council on Wednesday approved the appointment of former Joliet city manager and retired Will County judge Thomas Thanas to serve as its interim city attorney.

After the appointment of long-serving city attorney Sonni Choi Williams to the position of circuit judge of the 12th Circuit Court of Will County, the city asked Thanas to serve as the interim city attorney while it looks for a permanent replacement for Williams.

Thanas previously served as Lockport’s city attorney from 2015 to 2017 before Williams was hired. He formerly served as the city manager for Joliet as well as the city attorney for both Joliet and Naperville.

Thanas served as Joliet’s city manager for five years until he resigned in 2013. He then was appointed to become a Will County circuit judge and served for a year.

Part of his responsibility in the role will be to assist the city in the search for a new permanent in-house attorney, according to board documents.

“Tom Thanas has served the city of Lockport as city attorney from 2015 to 2017 and is not only qualified but experienced with Lockport and is eager to serve the community in our time of need with short notice,” according to the board documents.

The city administration plans to post the attorney position “immediately” with hopes of having a new attorney hired between April and May, according to the board documents.

Thanas will assume the role of interim city attorney Monday, the same day Williams is sworn in to her judicial position.