YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mayor-elect Derrick McDowell said last week he plans to announce key members of his administration beginning Friday, with a goal of announcing his cabinet by Jan. 1.
McDowell, who upset incumbent Mayor Jamael Tito Brown in the Nov. 4 general election, said the “immediate first phase” of the transition would include identifying the department heads who would make up the city’s Board of Control – law director and finance director – as well as his chief of staff.
In a news release sent to media outlets Saturday morning, McDowell said he was interviewing candidates for the positions,” with a goal to identify the department heads by Friday. He also plans to announce the next phase that day.
“Since being elected as your mayor, I have spent countless hours examining the tools we currently have, and identifying where we need to continue, to adjust and to create in order to meet the challenges facing our city,” he said in the release. “Deliberately taking stock of where we are allows us to have the clearest picture of where we need to go.
“To that end, I’ve determined that building my administration’s leadership team will be done through a phased approach,” he continued. “While all positions are vitally important, these phases have been chosen strategically and will allow us to focus on the immediate tasks at hand – ensuring a smooth transition.”
He also said that while many people are calling on him to bring in a “whole new team,” he is committed to interviewing each current department head.
“This highlights what I have promised you all – a deliberative, collaborative, and transparent process that will allow the new administration to gain a deeper understanding of City Hall operations and diligently put the best possible leadership team in place,” he said.