Folsom names Sari Dierking as permanent city attorney after council vote
Folsom named its new city attorney Wednesday putting a familiar face at the helm of the city’s legal department.
Interim City Attorney Sari Dierking will serve in the position on a permanent basis after receiving final approval from the Folsom City Council Tuesday night. She replaces Steve Wang, who departed the role earlier this year.
Dierking spent roughly a decade working for the city, according to a release. Before that, she served as a senior deputy city attorney for the city of Sacramento. She also spent six years with the California Department of Transportation.
“It has been a privilege to serve the City of Folsom for the past 10 years, and I’m honored to continue that service as City Attorney,” Dierking wrote in a statement. “I look forward to providing legal advice that protects the city’s interests, supports good governance and helps the City Council and staff serve our community with integrity.”
City Manager Bryan Whitemyer previously said the interview process included two panels, one with community members and another with outside attorneys and members of the executive management team.
Dierking earned her juris doctor from the UC College of Law, San Francisco, and her bachelor’s degree in political science from California Polytechnic State University. She currently resides in Folsom with her husband and two children.
Dierking’s appointment comes as changes could be on the horizon for the City Attorney’s Office.
Voters in November will decide whether the city attorney will report directly to the City Council rather than the city manager. The 2026 Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee recommended the charter amendment to the council, which approved placing it on the November ballot. In April, charter review committee members discussed how the current structure gives the city manager “significant control over the position.”
When previously asked what he’d like see to in a city attorney, Whitemyer said he wants someone who would help protect the city’s interests so Folsom makes headlines for positive news rather than negative legal battles.
Whitemyer on Wednesday said Dierking made a good impression while serving in the interim role.
“Sari has been a trusted legal advisor to this organization for a decade, and over the past five months she has demonstrated exceptional leadership as Interim City Attorney,” Whitemyer wrote in a statement. “Her deep knowledge of municipal law, collaborative approach, and commitment to public service have earned the confidence of the City Council, our leadership team, and city staff. She is exceptionally well-qualified to lead the City Attorney’s Office and provide the sound legal counsel needed to protect the city’s interests and support effective and efficient local government.”
