The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has picked a new legal helmsman to guide the governmental ship, casting a unanimous vote for Julia Mandell to take the helm as the new County Attorney. In a move that will shape the legal direction of the county, she has been handed a three-year contract, stepping into the shoes of the retiring Christine Beck.
Starting from January 13, 2026, Mandell will steward the legal affairs of the county. The commissioners, aiming to avoid any rocky transitions, decided to extend Beck's tenure, who has provided services as County Attorney since 2018, until January 12, 2026. Beck, after ushering the County through numerous significant legal challenges, is setting sail towards retirement.
Mandell is no stranger to the intricacies of local government law, with her compass calibrated towards such matters since 2003 when she first received her board certification. According to her current role as Hillsborough County Senior Assistant County Attorney, a position she's been anchoring since 2024, the County's navigation through legal waters will be in experienced hands. Mandell's career map also includes 13 years at the City of Tampa Attorney's Office, with the highlight being her service as the Tampa City Attorney from 2013 to 2017. Prior to this, as noted in a statement from the Hillsborough County newsroom, she practiced in several prominent law firms, specializing in features of the local government and land use law.
Her appointment as County Attorney is not only a continuation of her journey with Hillsborough County but also a homecoming; Mandell had served as an Assistant County Attorney from 1996 to 2003. The press release outlines her extensive experience, which is expected to be beneficial as the County Attorney's Office provides legal counsel and services to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, and all County departments, in addition to the County's constitutionally elected officers. The unanimous decision by the commissioners signifies confidence in Mandell's ability to safeguard the county's legal health.
