Rockwall City Council selects new member

Jim Pruitt, Rockwall City Council

September 11, 2012, Rockwall – Jim Pruitt, a local attorney, was appointed to the Rockwall City Council Monday to fill the seat currently held by Mark Russo.

Russo, who was recently elected to Justice of Peace in Precinct 3, will resign on September 18, and Pruitt will be sworn in on September 19. He will serve until the May 2013 municipal election.

“I wish to thank the Rockwall City Council for this appointment,” Pruitt said. “It is exciting to become a council member and to serve the citizens of Rockwall. We are blessed to live in a community where so many wonderful things are happening.”

Noting that the soon-to-be council member served the City of Sunnyvale on various boards and commissions, Rockwall Mayor David Sweet said Pruitt is well grounded and understands city government.  “Jim Pruitt has a vast understanding of how our process works,” said Mayor Sweet. “We interviewed 23 outstanding candidates.  The Council voted 6-0 to appoint Mr. Pruitt.”

A graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Political Science, Pruitt earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Baylor Law School in 1984. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

In 1994, he was elected as the judge for Dallas County Criminal Court 2. During his eight-year tenure, Judge Pruitt was elected by his judicial peers as the Presiding Judge for three years and as Local Administrative Judge for two years. He was also appointed to the First Administrative Judicial Region budget board, which included Rockwall County.

After leaving the bench, he and his wife Kenda Culpepper opened Culpepper and Pruitt with offices in Rockwall and Dallas. When his wife was elected Rockwall County District Attorney in 2008, Pruitt created the Pruitt Law Firm, which practices in areas including mediation, family law and intellectual property law.

Information provided by Joey Boyd, City of Rockwall.

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