The Lumberton Board of Aldermen has approved a new city attorney in Vanessa Jones to replace Scotty Chabert, who recently was elected to the position of Lamar County attorney in the August 8 primary election.
Lumberton Mayor Quincy Rogers said Chabert resigned shortly after the election to open the position for another candidate. Jones, a Hattiesburg attorney, was hired into her new position on September 5 and is currently serving as city attorney.
“(Chabert) did win his election as county attorney, and we wish him all the best and success in all of his endeavors,” Rogers said. “(Jones) is now our city attorney; we voted her in already.
“We interviewed her and another (candidate), and the board was impressed with (Jones’) experience in municipal law and decided to go forth with her.”
According to www.martindale.com, Jones received a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn A&M College in 1991 before earning her juris doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1994.
She previously served as Hattiesburg City Court judge.
“Mrs. Jones has a lot of municipal experience,” Rogers said. “She was once our city attorney years ago, when I was an alderman.
“Now she’s back with us, and we’re just happy to have her back, and we’re eager to get to work. We’ve got a lot of things that we’re working on now, and we’re going to need a good board attorney.”
Chabert, a Republican, won the primary election against his opponent Cynthia A. Re, 7,217 votes to 2,532 votes. He will not face an opponent in the November 7 general election.
