YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mayor-elect Derrick McDowell fell short of his goal to fill three key roles in his administration by Friday but pledged to have the slots filled by Tuesday.
In an emailed news release received just after 1 p.m. Friday, McDowell outlined what he described as “an update to his strategic Phase One approach to selecting the key Board of Control department heads” – finance director and law director, which with the mayor compose the Board of Control – as well as his chief of staff.
While his goal for Friday was “to arrive at several key department head selections,” the efforts to select candidates for the positions “remain a work in progress,” he said.
“The intricacies of the selection process dictate that I carry my previously announced Phase One work into next week,” he continued. Simultaneously, he is moving into the second phase of that work, which will include selecting the city’s next fire chief and police chief.
Under his updated plan, McDowell said he would appoint his law director, finance director and chief of staff “no later than Tuesday” and set a Dec. 12 “desired goal” for selecting his fire chief and police chief.
“I remain committed to the challenge of building a key leadership team that will take this city forward. Doing so requires we thoroughly examine, evaluate and exhaust all efforts to arrive at the most competent and qualified choices,” he said.
“The clear objective has not changed. With all deliberate speed I look forward to sharing those selections and announcing a leadership team that is ready to govern when I take office on Jan. 1.”