Richard Wesch of Hernando was selected Tuesday as the next Lee County Attorney after Lee County Commissioners voted 5-0 to enter into a contract with him.
Wesch’s contract as Citrus County Attorney requires he give 30-days notice; his start date in Lee County is slated for mid-October.
“I’m pleased that in working with Richard we were able to come to an agreement on an equitable compensation package that does not include a severance pay out,” Commission Chairman Cecil Pendergrass said. “I look forward to bringing Richard on board and feel that his diverse experience will give him a unique perspective on the issues facing Lee County.”
Wesch has a 26-year legal career as a private attorney, private in-house counsel, assistant county attorney, assistant county administrator, county administrator and sheriff’s office general counsel. He has been Citrus County Attorney since 2010.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and a law degree from University of Florida. He was born in Long Island, N.Y., and moved to Citrus County in Central Florida at age 8. He and his wife of 24 years, Diane, have two sons — one a high school senior and the other a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Wesch replaces Interim County Attorney Andrea Fraser. He’s the third new hire for Lee County Commissioners this summer. County Manager Roger Desjarlais started July 1 and County Hearing Examiner Donna Marie Collins started Sept. 3.