Sugar Land City Council appointed Meredith Riede as the city's new city attorney during its Dec. 16 meeting. Riede has 14 years of municipal law experience and has served as the interim city attorney since Sept. 19. Riede is taking over for Mary Ann Powell who resigned in June. Doug Adolph, Sugar Land assistant director of communications, said a national search resulted in Riede becoming a finalist for the vacant position. "She emerged as the strongest candidate after several interviews, including an extensive process involving city directors," Adolph said. "Meetings with the city manager and council members were also part of her selection." Riede began working with Sugar Land as an assistant city attorney in 2000 after serving as a legal intern for three years, Adolph said. Riede moved to Bryan in 2008 where she served as the senior assistant city attorney, interim city attorney and first assistant city attorney before returning to Sugar Land in 2013.