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Victoria native served as city attorney for 12 years

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  • Originally published May 28, 2008 at 9:55 a.m., updated May 28, 2008 at 9:55 a.m.

Former City Attorney David A. Smith was an outspoken critic last year of District Attorney Stephen Tyler.

In an Oct. 28 Advocate story, Smith asserted that Tyler ignored warnings about former Sheriff Michael Ratcliff before he hired him as his chief of staff. Smith, representing the police department’s concerns about the investigation into Ratcliff, alleged that Tyler was somehow part of an attempted cover-up.

Tyler denied that accusation.

Smith, 70, served as Victoria’s city attorney for 12 years before retiring in April.

The Victoria City Council voted against ousting Smith in April after several incidents that councilman David Hagan told the Advocate would make the public question the city council’s integrity.

Hagan said Smith had made outspoken comments on issues such as the rift between the police chief and district attorney, and that he had given improper legal advice regarding the sale of a city street.

The city signed him to a $2,300-a-month contract shortly after, which runs through September.

Smith, a Victoria native, graduated from Patti Welder High School in 1955.

He graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1962 and then went to Wichita Falls afterward, where he practiced law for nine years.

He returned to Victoria in 1972 to join the law firm Anderson, Smith, Null and Stofer.

Upon leaving the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon after being arrested, Smith declined to comment. Mayor Will Armstrong and other city officials pledged their support for him and Police Chief Bruce Ure.

He laughed when asked whether he thought the indictments against him and Police Chief Bruce Ure would prejudice the legal proceedings against former Sheriff Michael Ratcliff.

“Ha,” he said. “Yes. I think they do.”



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