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Meet Susan Goodwin, Arizona City Attorneys Association President
Susan D. Goodwin
Curtis, Goodwin, Sullivan, Udall & Schwab, PLC
Susan Goodwin has practiced in the area of public law since 1978 and has represented numerous cities and towns in Arizona since then. She heads the municipal team at Curtis, Goodwin,
Sullivan, Udall & Schwab that provides legal services for nine cities or towns as general counsel and several more as special counsel. Susan is active in the Arizona City Attorneys
Association and currently serves as its president. Susan is often a speaker at land use seminars and will be listed in the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in the area of municipal law.
Tell us a little about your background, and where you were educated.
I am a proud graduate of Arizona State University and have a master's degree in philosophy. However, after teaching an introductory course in philosophy at a community college, I knew I wanted
a more practical profession and went to law school, graduating from ASU in 1977. I am somewhat known for my world travels through sixty countries, and I always say I have received about half
of my education from adventures in exotic lands and the other half from formal education and the education one gets trying to meet the needs of city and town councils struggling to make good
decisions for their communities. Much of my career has also involved municipal utility law and working with special taxing districts.
What is your background and experience in municipal law?
I began my municipal career with Martinez & Curtis, P.C. as the designated city attorney for the City of Apache Junction shortly after its incorporation in 1978. When the Town of Wickenburg
required a firm to serve as Town Attorney in 1984, the town manager contacted me, and our firm continues to serve in the town attorney role. I served as the principal attorney for the Town
of Gilbert for thirty years and work with the town in its transition to in-house counsel. We have a municipal team with talented attorneys and represent many cities and towns. We serve as
city or town attorney for Wickenburg, Dewey-Humboldt, Clifton, Miami, Youngtown, Quartzsite, Oro Valley, Chino Valley, and the City of Litchfield Park. I have provided special counsel services
for many other cities and towns in the areas of campaign finance law violation complaints, open meeting law investigations, conflict of interest opinions, internal personnel investigations, and
preparation of personnel manuals, zoning code updates, and procurement codes. It is a wonderful way to spend a legal career.
What are your goals and plans for the ACAA in the next year?
Several years ago I had an idea for a half-day session at our annual ACAA meeting that focused on new and intermediate city and town attorneys. I think we are coming up to our fifth year doing
that program and it has been a great success. I really want to strengthen that program. I also want to involve more assistant attorneys in our association. At last year's annual meeting one
of the best presentations was from an assistant city attorney. They have a lot to offer and even we old-timers could benefit. And finally, of course, I want to carry on the tradition of the
ACAA being a valuable resource to other city attorneys. Things come up that look strange - but almost always there is some city attorney out there who has encountered the problem.
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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