Martinsville Welcomes New City Attorney | Roanoke News

Martinsville is set to welcome its newest city attorney, James Benkahla, starting September 1, 2026 — a seasoned legal powerhouse with over 30 years of experience, including nearly 20 as a county attorney in Virginia. He’ll serve as the city’s top legal advisor, overseeing everything from contracts and employee issues to economic development and litigation, ensuring all city actions stay legally sound. With a salary of $155,000 plus travel stipend and full benefits, Benkahla brings deep expertise to replace the departed Sands Anderson Law firm, whose departure followed conflicts of interest tied to recent lawsuits involving city leadership. The council and administration are thrilled to have his guidance steering the city’s legal future. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/83ac0f849337bc75