Mayor-elect Murray announces 'staffing innovations,' dual deputy mayors

SEATTLE -- Mayor-elect Ed Murray announced staff hires and outlined major "staffing innovations" at a news conference Wednesday.

Murray named several new city department heads and announced a plan to hire two deputy mayors, each with a different focus. Hyeok Kim, Executive Director of Interim Community Development Association, will focus on Seattle communities. Former Bellevue City Manager Andrea Rinkier will focus on what's going on in city government on an interim basis, Murray said.

“My administration, as with any administration, will be judged on how we serve Seattle residents, and my standard will be one of excellence,” Murray said. “To me, excellence means an administration that functions with a high level of inclusiveness, transparency, responsiveness and collaboration – and that brings innovation to solving problems for the people of Seattle.”

Murray also announced he is bringing a budget director back to the mayor's office. He named Ben Noble, current Director of Seattle City Council Central Services, to the role.

His third "innovation" is a plan to create an Office of Policy and Innovation to scope out problems and deliver clear results.

Murray appointed three department heads that still need to be confirmed by the city council.

More information is available at the mayor's transition website.