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Alameda County counsel Richard Winnie dies
Former Oakland city attorney headed counsel staff since 1998

by Jeb Bing

Flags at county facilities were flying at half staff this week following the death Monday of Alameda County Counsel Richard Winnie.

The county Board of Supervisors held a moment of silence in honor of Winnie at its meeting Tuesday and ordered that county flags be lowered in his memory.

Until his death after a long illness, Winnie served as the county counsel since 1998 and headed a staff of about 35 attorneys.

Prior to that, he served as Oakland's city attorney for many years and later was a partner with Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, a law firm in Oakland.

According to Alameda County officials, Winnie was active in the local community and served on many boards, including the Oakland Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District Retirement Board.

Board of Supervisors President Nate Miley said in a statement, "Richard was a trusted legal advisor to the board and department heads. We relied on Richard for his advice and counsel on a daily basis. He will be sorely missed."

Supervisor Keith Carson said, "Richard epitomized what it is to be a true public servant. He served county residents and his clients up to his very last day."

County Administrator Susan Muranishi said, "Not only was Richard our trusted legal advisor and confidante, he was a colleague and friend who was passionate about his work and cared deeply about the communities we serve."

Chief Assistant County Counsel Donna Ziegler will head the County Counsel's office until the Board of Supervisors appoints an interim county counsel.

A public memorial service for Winnie will be held sometime in April

-- Jeff Shuttleworth, Bay City News, contributed to this report.

Posted by George Shers, a resident of another community, on Jun 14, 2012 at 8:14 pm

Having worked for Richard Winnie when he was City Attorney for Oakland, I, and many of those who also worked under him, will not mourn his passing. He was appointed for partisan political reasons, was not to be trusted, was anti-employee union, and was disliked by many of us.

Posted by Bob, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Jun 15, 2012 at 6:39 am

No matter what you thought of Mr Winnie, your lack of respect for him now is sad.

None of it matters now does it? He is gone and it would have been nice if you could have shown some respect to those that cared about and loved him.

I did not know him, barely even knew of him, but I send my condolences to those that did.

Posted by Bill, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Jun 15, 2012 at 2:33 pm

The date of this article is April 1, 2011?

Scott Haggerty had fond memories of Richard Winnie because they were trapped together in an elevator in Paris, France.

And a county supervisor and a county attorney is in Paris on the taxpayer dime because?