2/2/07

 

By Vickie Aldous
Ashland Daily Tidings

 

 

Ashland City Attorney Mike Franell resigned Thursday. He plans to spend more time with his family and church, where he is a minister, when he leaves his position in May.

 

Ashland City Attorney Mike Franell has submitted his resignation, citing a desire to devote more time to his family and church.

"This is a very, very busy legal office. It's gotten to the point where it's more than I can do to juggle all three balls," he said on Thursday afternoon.

Franell said he will continue working until May 4, unless he accepts a job that requires he start before then. He said he has not yet decided what he will do, but he may start his own legal practice where he would have more control over his hours of work.

Franell, who has been city attorney since October 2003, has pastored the Lozier Lane Baptist Church in Medford for the past three years.

He also is the biological father of three children — two of whom are grown — and the adoptive father of seven children. One other adopted child died.

Rather than going overseas and adopting infants, Mike and Teri Franell have adopted two groups of Oregon siblings who would otherwise be split up in foster homes, said Ashland Information Technology Director Joe Franell, who is Mike Franell's brother.

Their own youngest biological child received treatment for a brain tumor and is now in remission, Joe Franell said.

Mike and Teri Franell were in the process of adopting three siblings several years ago when one of the three, a girl, was diagnosed with leukemia, he said.

"They were given the option to back out of the adoption by the State of Oregon. But they said they were adopting them to give them love. They adopted the group. She fought for two years and then passed away," Joe Franell said.

Despite that hardship, Mike and Teri Franell adopted four sisters and a brother who had been split up among three foster homes. All the children are doing well in their new situation, Joe Franell said.

"They love having a family. They love having a mom and dad. They love having an aunt and uncle and a grandma and grandpa," he said. "They just beam with joy when we're around them."

Mayor John Morrison, who accepted Mike Franell's letter of resignation, thanked him for his service to the city of Ashland.

"We will miss Mike's legal expertise. He was a diligent steward of the city of Ashland's legal interests and cautious and thorough in his work," Morrison said.

Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 479-8199 or vlaldous@yahoo.com.