Andy Herrick, Senior Assistant County Attorney, Albemarle County
Where were you born (and raised, if different)?
I was born in Santa Monica, California, and raised in Lexington, Virginia.
When and why did you move to the Charlottesville/Albemarle area?
We moved to the Charlottesville/Albemarle area from Williamsburg in 2001 when I accepted my current position with Albemarle County.
What neighborhood do you live in now?
We live in Lake Monticello.
Family (spouse, kids, etc.)?
My wife Julie Anne is a Latin tutor. Our son John (17) is a rising high school senior, and our daughter Elizabeth (7) will be entering the third grade.
What is your alma mater and when did you graduate?
I received my bachelor’s degree from William & Mary in 1990, and my law degree and MBA (also from William & Mary) in 1994.
What were you doing before you came to work for the county?
After graduating from law school, I was in a private law practice with the Williamsburg City Attorney for four years, and then served almost three years as an Assistant County Attorney with James City County, in the Williamsburg area, before accepting the same position with Albemarle County.
Your job title is Senior Assistant County Attorney – what, in your own words, would you say you do?
My job is to represent the County, and to make sure that laws and correct processes (especially the County’s) are followed. Looking at the bigger picture, I like to think myself as helping the County government provide quality services for a quality community.
What is the best part of your job? The most difficult part?
The best part of my job is seeing local government having a direct, positive impact on citizens’ lives. The most difficult part is dealing with those who are more interested in exploiting problems than in finding solutions.
How does your job most directly impact the average person?
Though much of an attorney’s work is behind-the-scenes, many citizens use and enjoy the County properties and facilities that we’ve helped acquire or manage, like the County Office Building on 5th Street, the new Crozet library and Streetscape improvements, the old Crozet Elementary School, Byrom Park, and many conservation easements.
What is the most interesting project or work experience that you’ve had while with the county?
It’s interesting to be involved in the legislative process, at both the state and local levels, to see how the one affects the other, and how both affect the lives of citizens.
What is a little-known fact about you?
I really enjoy road trips and classic country music. If I were no longer an attorney, I think I’d like to be a long-haul truck driver, so that I could drive around listening to the likes of Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, and George Strait all day.
What do you do outside of work hours – hobbies, etc.?
My wife and I are active in our Church – I co-lead an adult Sunday School class. In addition to our kids’ activities, I also enjoy maps, sports, and statistics.
