PROVO — Mayor Lewis Billings announced Tuesday the city has hired Raylene Ireland as the director of community and governmental relations, replacing Michael Mower.

Ireland was a member of former Gov. Olene Walker's Cabinet as executive director of the Department of Workforce Services. She resigned in December as Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. formed his new Cabinet.

Beginning Monday, Ireland will act as Provo's chief communications officer and chief liaison to federal, state and inter-local government entities.

Ireland has local ties as a graduate of Brigham Young University and a Provo employee from 1986 to 1992, when she became executive director of the Utah Department of Administrative Services under former Gov. Mike Leavitt.

Mower left Provo in December to join Huntsman's staff as legislative liaison and head of community affairs.

Billings said a committee of six people reviewed 105 applicants for the position.