Purzycki appoints new department heads

Wilmington Mayor-elect Mike Purzycki's cabinet includes fresh faces to lead departments like fire, finance and parks, he announced Friday. 

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Donohue will become the chief of the fire department. Donohue will replace Mayor Dennis P. Williams' appointment, Anthony Goode, who has worked for the city for nearly two decades. 

Police Chief Bobby Cummings will stay in an acting role "while a nationwide search is conducted to identify both internal and external candidates who are interested in serving as the city’s next police chief," a press release announcing the appointments said. 

“All of these appointees have the knowledge, skills and backgrounds to make city government more efficient in the delivery of services, more responsive to the needs of citizens and much stronger and smarter when it comes to managing our city’s finances," Purzycki said in the release.

Purzycki and incoming City Council members and the treasurer will take their oaths of office at a ceremony on Tuesday.

The swearing-in will be held during the organizational meeting of the 107th Session of the council at the Grand Opera House on Market Street. The doors will open at 7:45 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 8. The event is free and open to the public. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

Patrick Carter, who has been state finance director since May 2003, will take over city finances from Williams' pick Sheila Winfrey-Brown. The Government Finance Officers Association awarded Wilmington a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting every year since Winfrey-Brown became director, but she was criticized for a personal history of tax liens and for maintaining a residence outside the city. 

Tanya "Tanny" Washington will be Purzycki's chief of staff. The 25-year city government "veteran" served as chief of staff for former Wilmington Mayor James Baker and was appointed by two council presidents as legislative director for council.  

John Rago, who has worked in city, county and state government for 35 years, will be Purzycki's deputy chief of staff for policy and communications. He returns to a role he held during Baker's 12-year term. 

Former mayoral candidate Kevin F. Kelley, Sr. will become the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. Kelley, who served as a city councilman for 20 years, has been the director of management services for the state Department of Health and Social Services since 2013. 

Luke Mette, a partner in the business litigation group in the Wilmington office of the law firm of McCarter & English, is nominated to be city solicitor, responsible for providing legal advice to city government. Mette will replace Michael P. Migliore.

"Because Mette is being nominated as the chief litigator and legal counsel to both the executive and legislative branches of city government, his nomination by the mayor-elect must be approved by Wilmington City Council," according to the release. 

Purzycki nominated City Auditor Earl Jeter to serve another four years in his role, pending approval by City Council. Jeter, an adjunct professor at Wilmington University, provides "an independent examination of the city’s internal control systems to determine whether the city is collecting revenue to which it is entitled, that expenditures are properly authorized and that city assets are safeguarded," the release said. 

Herb Inden will become director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development. Inden has been a principal planner for the state office of planning coordination since 1993 and previously served as the Wilmington planning director from 1988 through 1993. 

Inden will replace Leonard Sophrin, who will become director of the real estate and housing department. Sophrin was Williams' policy director. 

Jennifer Prado, who has worked in the city's constituent services office for a decade, will become its director. 

Charlotte Barnes will remain director of human resources, a role she has held for over two years. Prior to becoming director, she was special assistant to Williams' chief of staff and served as the chief of staff for Wilmington City Council for eight years.

Economic Development Director Jeff Flynn was reappointed to his job, which he has held since 2014. 

Public Works Commissioner Jeff Starkey, who has previously worked for the Department of Licenses and Inspections, will keep his position. 

Leo Lynch will become acting director of licenses and inspections, for which he has worked 16 years and is currently deputy director. Until a permanent director is hired, Lynch replaces Commissioner James "Ray" Rhodes. 

Tom Ogden will be deputy chief of staff for fiscal and operations management. Ogden was the former development director and a member of the leadership team at St. Mark’s High School for 16 years, the release said. 

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Government newcomer Lossie Freeman was appointed to be special assistant to the mayor for employment initiatives. Freeman, who previously worked in business development for Parnassus Global Agency and JP Morgan Chase, will coordinate the administration’s efforts to promote job creation in partnership with the local business community and identify job skills training opportunities, according to the release. 

Former Veterans Affairs Budget Analyst David Curtis will take the role of best practices/innovation specialist. Curtis will focus on government efficiencies and research best practices and innovative programs, the release said. 

Purzycki said he will make additional announcements in the days ahead regarding other city management positions.

"We are ready to get to work to make our city and our neighborhoods more vibrant by creating jobs, reducing crime and blight and advocating for a better education system for our children," Purzycki said. "I express my thanks to those who have agreed to join me in serving the people of Wilmington.”

Contact Christina Jedra at cjedra@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2837 or on Twitter @ChristinaJedra.