Mayor Ed Murray details first changes at Seattle City Hall

SEATTLE — Mayor-Elect Ed Murray makes the first personnel choices of his new administration. Friday, he announced who's staying and who's going at Seattle City Hall.

Murray announced that current Budget Director Beth Goldberg, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Marco Lowe, Personnel Director David Stewart and Transportation Director Peter Hahn are leaving City Hall.

It was Hahn who Mayor Mike McGinn brought in to revamp the city's response to snowstorms. He bought new snowplows and other equipment that improved the city's ability to handle snow.
But Mayor-elect Murray decided to replace Hahn so he could take a different approach to transportation planning. "So that we have modes of transit and transportation and pedestrians and bicyclists that complement and don't compete with each other," Murray said.

The Transportation Department says work will not be interrupted on big projects like Mercer Street while the mayor-elect conducts a nationwide search for a new leader. "I think every mayor and governor and president brings in their own team because it reflects their values their working relationships," Murray said.

Murray is keeping some high-profile department heads who have had their jobs since before Mayor McGinn. They include Fire Chief Greg Dean, City Light Director Jorge Carrasco and Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams.

Murray spent Friday afternoon at Seattle Center with his 43-member transition team. He told them the goal of his administration. "A city that is safe, a city that is clean, a city that has thriving neighborhoods, where people feel respected and included," Murray said.

Leaving City Hall

Beth Goldberg- City Budget Office