Skoyles announced as Thomas Winters’ replacement

By Robert Williams

Editor

The law firm of Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken will remain the legal representatives for the City of Vergas after former firm member and City Attorney Thomas Winters announced he was venturing out and opening his own firm.

Karen Skoyles will take over duties in Vergas. The firm announced last week that Patrick A. Bakken will replace Winters in Frazee. Skoyles will be introduced at the next city council meeting on Monday, Aug. 11.

Skoyles earned her B.A. in 1983 at Moravian College and her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986. She concentrates her practice in Criminal Law prosecution. Karen is Assistant City Attorney and City Prosecutor for a number of Minnesota municipalities, and formerly served as a Minnesota District Public Defender. Karen is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and Seventh Judicial District Bar Association. She is currently a Vice President of the Minnesota City Attorneys Association.

Skoyles is very active in the community. She is President of Marshmallow Animal Shelter and chairs the City of Detroit Lakes Park Board. She is a member of the Detroit Lakes Art and Culture Commission, Secretary and Past President of the Detroit Lakes Kiwanis Club and former Jaycee Water Carnival Admiral. She was very active in Scouting and was recognized for her service with the District Award of Merit. She was twice recognized as High School Nordic Skiing’s Section 8 Volunteer of the Year. She also spent nine wonderful summers coaching youth baseball and has been a ski instructor at Detroit Mountain since it reopened in 2014. 

In her free time, Skoyles enjoys spending time with family, alpine skiing, cooking, photography, gardening, sewing, knitting and hanging out with her cats.

Winters had initially proposed to remain as the City Attorney of both towns, but has since withdrawn that intention in an email communication to City Administrators.

“After taking some time to consider things I am going to withdraw my name from consideration for the City Attorney position,” Winters said.

He cited time constraint issues as he sets up his own private practice.

“I do not feel it will be fair to the city to not have my undivided attention; I also feel the Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken firm will be better suited to represent the City with regards to both criminal ability and having the additional attorneys on hand to assist the City on civil matters.”

Winters has represented Frazee for the past nine years.

“I’ve learned so much and want to thank all the council members and staff that I have worked with over the years,” said Winters.

Winters took over City Attorney duties in Vergas in 2020 replacing Steve Peloquin of the Peloquin Law Office.