Roanoke confirms Laura Carini as city attorney with March 1 transition

Roanoke officials announced on February 2, 2026 that Laura M. Carini will serve as city attorney effective March 1, 2026, following what the city described as a national search. Carini had served in the office since 2012 and most recently held the deputy city attorney role.

Leadership transitions in the city attorney office can influence timelines for procurement, litigation posture, contract review, and ordinance strategy, especially during active spring policy cycles. Roanoke's notice emphasized municipal-law experience and continuity in legal operations.

The move follows the planned retirement of former City Attorney Timothy Spencer, and city statements framed the transition as a continuity handoff rather than a broad legal-policy reset. That framing matters for departments and partner boards that rely on stable legal review queues.

For residents, this is less a daily-service headline than a governance marker: a core legal office changed hands just ahead of spring budget and development decision windows.

Source: Reporting based on City of Roanoke NewsFlash item posted February 2, 2026, Laura Carini confirmed as Roanoke City Attorney.