GLORIA APPOINTS EIGHT TO HIS EXECUTIVE STAFF, TOUTS TEAM’S DIVERSITY

Incoming mayor says staff is ‘a true reflection of the people we serve’

SAN DIEGO

San Diego Mayor-elect Todd Gloria announced eight new members of his executive staff Monday, including policy director Jessica L awrence and communications director Jen Lebron.

Gloria, who will replace Kevin Faulconer as San Diego mayor Dec. 10, hailed the appointees as civic-minded professionals who represent the diversity of the city.

“At a time when people are especially looking to their government for leadership, I’m proud to appoint these talented, hardworking and dedicated professionals to help me tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our city,” Gloria said in a news release. “I am par ticularly proud that our administration is on track to be one of the most diverse in city histor y and a true ref lection of the people we serve.”

Gloria tapped Michaela Valk as community engagement director, Adrian Granda as government affairs director, and Mathew Gordon as director of appointments and boards and commissions.

The other appointees are Matt Yag yagan as deputy policy director, Chida Warren-Darby as deputy communications director and Walt Bishop as federal government affairs manager.

L awrence, who previously worked for Gloria when he was a city councilman, has been serving as Faulconer ’s director of policy and council affairs. She’s l ed Faulconer ’s budget team and driven major policy initiatives.

Lebron has held multiple roles at City Hall, including press secretary, director of dig ital strateg y, and director of public safety and neighborhood ser vices. Prior to the city, she was a repor ter for The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Arizona Republic and the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Valk ser ved as a f ield representative in Gloria’s state Assembly off ice and ser ved as Gloria’s liaison to the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

Gordon ser ved as a district representative in Gloria’s Assembly office and previously served as an adviser to former City Council