Mayor Eric Garcetti named former Councilwoman Jan Perry as interim general manager of the Economic Development Department on Tuesday, one of a number of new key appointments announced by his office.
Garcetti's onetime rival in the Los Angeles mayor's race will oversee the newly created division focused on business and development, until a permanent general manager is found, Garcetti spokesman Yusef Robb said.
In a statement, Garcetti cited Perry's work revitalizing downtown, an area she represented on the council until term limits forced her out Monday. Under Perry's watch, downtown saw a flurry of new hotel, restaurant and housing complexes.
"I'm excited that Jan Perry and I will be working closely together on getting people back to work and helping businesses open and grow," Garcetti said. Perry said in a statement she would "make it clear that Los Angeles is open for business."
Garcetti also named Doane Liu as deputy mayor of city services, a new staff position heavily focused on constituent services, according to Robb. As deputy mayor, Liu will oversee numerous departments: Water and Power, Recreation & Parks, Transportation and Public Works. Liu was previously a deputy mayor for former Mayor James Hahn and recently served as chief of staff to Councilman Joe Buscaino.
Liu's hiring marks the first
deputy mayor position filled in Garcetti's administration.
Garcetti intends to have a total of four deputy mayors, far fewer than the dozen who served in former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's administration, he said this week.
Additionally, Garcetti's office named Rich Llewellyn as counsel to the mayor. Llewellyn served as chief of staff to Councilman Paul Koretz, and worked as special counsel to Garcetti's father, former District Attorney Gil Garcetti.
Heather Repenning, who worked on Garcetti's political campaign for mayor, was named director of external affairs, while Robb was named Garcetti's director of communications, a title he previously held in Garcetti's council office.
Additionally, Garcetti named Kelli Bernard his interim chief of economic development. She previously worked as Garcetti's director of planning in his council office.
Garcetti also named Borja Leon director of transportation, a position similar to the one Leon held under Villaraigosa.
Also staying on in the same role she held under Villaraigosa is the mayor's director of scheduling, Martha Preciado.
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