Becker prepares office with personnel shuffle
Louis Zunguze is out as the city's director of community development, which oversees planning and zoning, housing, business licensing, building services, transportation and the Arts Council, Becker announced Friday. The mayor-elect said he's been in discussions with Zunguze about another city position.
Mary De LaMare-Schaefer, who had been deputy director of the department, will be acting director while a search is conducted for a new leadership for the restructured department. Economic development will be folded into the department, which will return to its former name, the Department of Community and Economic Development.
"We are at a crossroads in our history," Becker said. "With Downtown Rising, an aggressive schedule for transit improvements and an ambitious set of 'blueprints' for our neighborhoods and community, I want to fully engage this arm of the city to most effectively serve our residents, visitors and businesses."
The city's management services department, which includes the accounting, human resources, treasurer and recorder offices, will no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the chief administrative officer. Former deputy director Steve Fawcett will head the department on an interim basis.
Dennis McKone, who has been serving as acting fire chief since Aug. 31, will remain in that position while a search is conducted for a new fire chief.
Earlier in the week, Becker announced three new appointments to his executive/support staff, as well as his plans to retain at least two members of Mayor Rocky Anderson's administration.
David Everitt, who served as Becker's campaign manager, will be chief of staff of the new administration; former state senator Karen Hale will be Becker's communications director; and local attorney Ben McAdams will be senior advisor for intergovernmental affairs.
The mayor-elect will retain Lyn Creswell as chief administrative officer and Ed Butterfield as economic development manager.
Becker also announced earlier this week that the structure of the mayor's office will be a little different than it has been under previous administrations. Becker, who will be sworn in Jan. 7, said his staff will be organized under three primary functions: communications, intergovernmental relations and policy coordination.
As Becker's chief of staff, Everitt will supervise the day-to-day operations of the mayor's office and will coordinate the efforts of those three functions.
Recent comments
George W Bush will be out of a job in another year so maybe you can...
Mr. Marc | Dec. 14, 2007 at 3:27 p.m.
Good going Mayor to be Becker!!
Anonymous | Dec. 14, 2007 at 3:24 p.m.
