HOUGHTON – Houghton has a new city attorney.

The City Council appointed Paul Tomasi to replace James Cone, who is leaving the area to join a firm in Georgia.

Like Cone, Tomasi belongs to the firm Vairo, Mechlin and Tomasi. He has represented the city in some situations before, said City Manager Eric Waara.

Cone was appointed in August 15 after the retirement of Dave Mechlin, who had been city attorney for 22 years. He was running for election as county prosecutor before announcing he had accepted another job about a week before the Aug. 2 primary election.