The City of The Dalles is bringing its legal services back in-house.  The City Council gave its approval for staff to enter into negotiations with Jonathan Kara to become City Attorney.  He has already been acting as the City’s legal counsel as part of the City’s contract with the firm Campbell Phillips.  Mayor Rich Mays says they have been very happy with the work by the firm, but conflicts of interest that prevented Kara from providing some services had become an issue.  Mays adds bringing Kara in to City Hall will make it easier for department heads to consult with him.  Gene Parker was the City’s in-house attorney for a number of years, and Mays noted when Parker retired they did a nationwide search for a replacement but were not happy with the applicants.