HERBERT W.A. THIELE has served as County Attorney for Leon County, Florida, since 1990.     Previously, Mr. Thiele was the City Attorney for the City of Delray Beach, Florida, for over eight years, and an Assistant City Attorney in Delray Beach, as well as in private practice, for the preceding three years.  Mr. Thiele graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in government and international studies and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida.  He is admitted to practice before numerous state and federal courts, and has held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including serving as Chair of the City, County & Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar and currently, serving his third term as President of the Florida Association of County Attorneys.  Mr. Thiele is a member of the Florida Counties Foundation Board of Directors and a member of the International Municipal Lawyers Association Board of Directors, organizations that support the work of local governments.  In addition, Mr. Thiele has been the recipient of numerous awards, including:

*Florida Municipal Attorney of the Year for 1987-88, presented by the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association;

*Ralph A. Marsicano Award in 1991, for significant contributions to the development of local government law in Florida, awarded by the Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar;

*Ethics in Government Award in 1998 and again in 2001, awarded by the Florida Association of County Attorneys for his many years of professionalism, skill, and expertise in the fostering of proper ethics in all aspects of County government;

*Paul S. Buchman Award in 2000, for outstanding contributions in the area of legal public service from the City, County and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar;

*President's Award, 2004, Florida Association of County Attorneys, in recognition of outstanding services and dedication to the organization; and

*Chair Service Award, 2005, City, County & Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar, in appreciation of outstanding service to the Section and The Florida Bar.

Mr. Thiele is frequently requested as a speaker and has both lectured and written numerous articles on Florida and national local government matters, including public records and sunshine laws, personnel matters, public finance, and zoning, land use, and comprehensive planning matters.