Spokane mayor-elect announces leadership appointments

(The Center Square) – Spokane mayor-elect Lisa Brown on Thursday announced several pending cabinet appointments as she prepares to take office on Jan. 1.

Named to her new administration are Mike Piccolo as city attorney, Justin Lundgren as interim police chief, Garrett Jones continuing as interim city administrator, and Maggie Yates as assistant city administrator.

Brown also announced she will elevate the position of director of the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Inclusion as a cabinet-level position. The current director, Jerrall Haynes, will remain in that role, Brown said in a press release Thursday.

Brown, 67, is slated to take the oath of office during a ceremony scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 27, in downtown Spokane. She defeated incumbent Mayor Nadine Woodward, who was seeking a second four-year term in office, in the Nov. 7 general election.

Earlier this month, Brown announced the convening of five “transition committees” to focus on priority topics of public safety and law enforcement, health and housing, economy and workforce, families and communities, and “preparing for a sustainable future.”

“Brown asked committee members to prioritize challenges and opportunities related to each committee’s topics. She will use their guidance to decide where to focus her attention,” the statement said. “The groups include residents from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. They include neighborhood and business leaders and advocates for youth, the environment, and the arts.”

In his role as interim police chief, Lundgren will succeed current Spokane police chief Craig Meidl, who announced his resignation effective Dec. 31 following last month’s election.

Lundgren has served with the Spokane Police Department since 1997 and is the current assistant chief.

“Stability for the community is of utmost importance during this transition,” said Lundgren. “And I am proud to provide continuity of leadership for the Spokane Police Department at this time.”

Yates is currently the community reinvestment program administrator for the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid. She served as Spokane County’s law-and-justice administrator from August 2018 to January 2022.

As assistant city administrator, Yates’ role will focus on public safety. She will help oversee the police, fire, and emergency management departments, along with the municipal court system. Additionally, Yates will oversee the process of hiring a new police chief, which is expected to start early in 2024.

“I am honored and excited to serve the city in this position,” said Yates. “Mayor-elect Brown and I are aligned on a vision of public safety and just outcomes, with a focus on regional collaboration.”

Garrett Jones, who has been Spokane’s parks and recreation director, will continue to serve as interim city administrator. He was elevated to the position in June after then-administrator Johnnie Perkins was placed on leave pending an investigation by the human resources department over employee complaints.

Piccolo is the current assistant city attorney and will succeed Lynden Smithson, who was appointed by Woodward to the post in July after serving in an interim capacity since May 2022. The position is subject to confirmation by the city council.

Brown is a former state Democratic legislator, state Department of Commerce director, chancellor of Washington State University’s Spokane campus, and college economics instructor. She will begin her term as the city’s 46th mayor and fifth woman to hold the position, which will carry an annual salary of $179,148.

More information about her priorities, transition committees, and staff appointments can be viewed online at betterwayspokane.com.