HAHarvey Walden
3 hours agoNew City Attorney and City Clerk
The Fort Myers City Council approved an employment agreement with Ronald A. Dente Jr. to serve as city attorney, while Lilliana Baker was sworn in as city clerk during the council’s Sept. 21 meeting.
Both long-time public servants were selected from within the city organization, providing continuity in two key charter officer positions. Dente was chosen following a competitive selection process that included both internal and external candidates.
Dente succeeds Grant W. Alley, who retired just one month shy of 31 years with the City of Fort Myers. Throughout his distinguished career, Alley provided legal guidance to City Council and staff and helped shape decisions that moved the city forward.
“It is an honor to continue serving the City of Fort Myers in this new role and to build on the strong legal foundation established by Grant Alley,” Dente said. “My experience with the city provides continuity and a clear understanding of its priorities, and I look forward to working with City Council, staff and the community to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
Dente has served the city since 2019, first as an assistant city attorney and, since 2024, as deputy city attorney. He brings nearly 30 years of legal experience and has advised city leadership on matters involving municipal governance, land use, procurement, contracts, labor and employment law, ethics and risk management. He has also represented the city in litigation, appellate proceedings and arbitration.
Before joining the City of Fort Myers, Dente held legal and leadership positions with the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit; Edison State College, now Florida SouthWestern State College; Charlotte County; the City of Cape Coral; and public defender offices in Florida and Virginia.
Dente is board certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law and is a Florida Supreme Court certified circuit civil mediator. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Iowa.
Baker succeeds Mary Hagemann, who retired as city clerk Sept. 9. Baker has served the City of Fort Myers for the past eight years and brings more than 17 years of experience in local and federal government, nonprofit organizations and higher education.
As city clerk, Baker is exploring new opportunities to connect residents with local government. One initiative she hopes to pursue is partnering with local middle schools to hold mock City Council meetings, giving students firsthand experience with the municipal decision-making process.
“I love to help young people understand that local government isn’t just meetings, agendas and people saying, ‘I’ll entertain a motion’—it directly shapes the communities where they live, learn and play,” Baker said. “My hope is to spark curiosity and maybe inspire a few future public servants along the way.”
