Dan Wichmer
Springfield City Attorney

Dan Wichmer has served as City Attorney for the City of Springfield since May 2005. Prior to his position with the City of Springfield, Mr. Wichmer was the City Attorney for the City of Branson, Missouri for 2 years. Prior to becoming City Attorney for the City of Branson, Mr. Wichmer was engaged in the private practice of law with the firm of Lathrop & Gage, L.C. in Springfield, Missouri. He is licensed to practice in Missouri, United States District Court, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Wichmer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Northeast Missouri State University (Truman University) and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri Columbia.

Mr. Wichmer was a Law Clerk to the Honorable John C. Holstein for the Missouri Supreme Court. Mr. Wichmer is also a member of the Order of Barristers. He also has served as an instructor at the Drury University teaching courses in legal writing and law and was an instructor for the American Banking Association Continuing Education programs. He is currently an editor for the Missouri Courts and CLE Bulletin, Torts Section.

Assistant City Attorneys

Nancy Yendes - A 1976 graduate from Central Missouri State University with a degree in political science and minor in criminal justice, Yendes graduated in the top 10 percent from the University of Missouri Law School at Columbia in 1979 and has served as an attorney for the City since 1989. Prior to her service with the City, she was a hearing officer for the Missouri State Tax Commission and an Assistant Missouri Attorney General where she represented a variety of agencies including the prison system and the departments of elementary and secondary education and mental health. She also served for a time as an attorney for the Missouri Department of Social Services in the mid-eighties. Nancy has been with the City Law Department for 18 years. She has practiced law for a total of 28 years.

Nancy currently serves as the chairman of the Local Area Government Employee Retirement System, having first been elected to the board by her fellow local government employees. She has served as the President of the Missouri chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and as a board member of that organization for a number of years. She has also served as the secretary, vice president and president of the Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association. She is a frequent speaker at Missouri Municipal League seminars and functions. She is admitted to practice in Missouri, the Western District Federal Court, Eighth Circuit Appellate Court and U.S. Supreme Court. Her primary areas of responsibility with the City includes the Departments of Public Works, Planning and Zoning, Economic Development, Rights-Of-Way management and Communication Industry Issues and Special Projects.

Carl Yendes - Graduate of University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law in 1981. He has served as an attorney for the City since 1991. His primary areas of responsibility include Human Resources; Police; Human Rights Commission, Pensions and Benefits, Fire, Labor Laws, and Civil Rights.

Marianne Landers Banks - Graduate of The University of Texas (B.A.) and St. Mary's University (Doctor of Jurisprudence). She is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Missouri and began practicing municipal law in 1987. In 1990 she received the distinguished public service award from the National Insititute of Municipal Law Officers and in 1999 was designated a Fellow of Municipal Law from the International Municipal Lawyers Association, IMLA, and currently serves as a member of their fellows committee. She is a past chair of IMLA's land development, planning and zoning section and past Texas chair for IMLA. She is currently a member of IMLA, The Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association and the Texas City Attorneys Association. She has presented numerous articles on a variety of municipal legal issues. She served for eleven years as city attorney for city of Georgetown, Texas. She also served as assistant city attorney and senior assistant city attorney for the the city of College Station, Texas. She also served as a briefing attorney for the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco, Texas. Prior to moving to Springfield in 2003 she was in private practice in Texas. Ms. Banks serves the City as a part time attorney with primary responsiblilities in the areas of economic development along with planning and zoning.

Jacob Frank - Graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law (J.D., 2003) and Missouri State University (B.A. History, 2000). Upon graduating from law school and passing the Missouri bar exam, Mr. Frank spent 2 years in Washington, D.C., working on legislation in the U.S. Congress. He joined the City of Springfield in January of 2006 as a general attorney. His primary responsibility is tracking federal and state legislation for the city.

Thomas Edward Rykowski - Graduate of University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1983 (JD). Southwest Missouri State University (Missouri State Univ.) -1980 (BS). Joined City staff July 2005. Previously engaged in private practice in Springfield since 1983 concentrating in Litigation (first & third party claims, personal injury, product liability, fire &fraud); Employment Law; Worker's Compensation. Primary areas of responsibility for the city in general litigation, Health, Human Resources, Finance - Licensing, Police, zoning enforcement & worker's compensation.

Lana R. Woolsey - Graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Mathematics and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1990. Following her graduation from Law School, Ms. Woolsey was engaged in the private practice of law with the firm of Carson and Coil, LLC in Jefferson City, Missouri, and later worked as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Boone County, Columbia, Missouri. Immediately prior to her position with the City of Springfield, Ms. Woolsey was an Attorney for Shelter Insurance Companies for approximately twelve years. Ms. Woolsey undertook her position as an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Springfield in July of 2005, with her primary areas of practice including the Departments of Public Works, Parks, Purchasing and the Art Museum.

Support Staff

Dan Dudley - Legal Investigator

Sharon Smith - Executive Secretary

Julieta Villines - Paralegal

JoAnna Hickman - Paralegal

Tina Treat - Litigation Paralegal

Airport Legal Counsel

Duke McDonald - Phone: (417) 869-0300 Mr. McDonald has served as the in house legal counsel for the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport since September 26, 2005. He holds a B.A. degree in Political Science (1983) and a J.D. law degree (1988) from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Mr. McDonald has served as an assistant prosecuting attorney, assistant public defender, solo practitioner, and was a lawyer/officer manager for Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services. Having practiced in several rural and urban Missouri counties, his experience includes litigation in US Tax Court, felony criminal defense, civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels, and general legal issues. His primary duties at the airport include working with contracts, leases, ordinance reviews, personnel issues, airline bankruptcy matters, and airport fire, police and accident issues. Working with federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations governing aviation are also a part of his duties.

Prosecutor's Office Staff

Chief Prosecutor - Johnnie Burgess directs the operation of the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office and has final responsibility for prosecuting city ordinance violations and representing the City in administrative hearings before the Municipal Court. Johnnie’s previous posts include assistant to the prosecutor in both Benton and Greene Counties in Missouri, special prosecutor for Christian County, Missouri, and legal counsel for the Missouri Department of Social Services. Johnnie, born in Springfield, is a graduate of Springfield Central High School, Southwest Missouri State University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Johnnie also serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Alternative Sentencing Program.

Assistant Prosecutor - Patricia Sullivan Graduate of University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1995, Juris Doctorate Degree; Graduate of Indiana University - Bloomington in 1992, Bachelor of Arts in English; Missouri State Public Defender one and one-half years; began practice as an Assistant City Prosecuting Attorney, Springfield, MO in June 1997. As Assistant Prosecutor, primary responsibilities include prosecuting city ordinance violations with emphasis on DWI cases.

Assistant Prosecutor - Rhonda Lewsader Graduate of Washington University School of Law in 1996, Juris Doctorate Degree, Order of the Coif; Graduate of Southwest Missouri State University in 1998, Master of Business Administration; Graduate of Southwest Missouri State University in 1988, Bachelor of Arts in Writing; Missouri State Public Defender eight months; began practice as an Assistant City Prosecuting Attorney, Springfield, MO in February 1999. As Assistant Prosecutor, primary responsibilities include prosecuting city ordinance violations.

Assistant Prosecutor - Aaron Jones Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1998, Juris Doctorate Degree; Graduate of Drury College, Springfield, MO in 1995, with a BA in Political Science and Philosophy; in civil private practice as well as Assistant City Prosecutor, primarily handling night court, Springfield, MO. Primary responsibilities as Springfield City Prosecutor include prosecuting city ordinance violations.

Assistant Prosecutor – Ragan Wright: Graduated from the University Of Missouri Law School in 2005 with Juris Doctorate Degree, Graduated from Drury University with Honors in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Arts in History, while at Drury University was President of Phi Alpha Theta from 1999-2000. After graduating law school began practice as an Assistant City Prosecuting Attorney, Springfield, MO in November 2005, currently the Assistant Editor for the MMLA newsletter. As an Assistant Prosecutor, primary responsibilities include prosecuting city ordinance violations.

Support Staff

Vickie Lee - Legal Technician

Jenny Deppe - Legal Technician

Catherine White - Staff Assistant

Brenda Miller - Staff Assistant