Mayor Ted Wheeler’s on the search for a new chief of staff.
This afternoon, the mayor’s office announced that Wheeler’s current Chief of Staff Maurice Henderson will be leaving city hall to join TriMet as the agency’s new Chief Operating Officer.
“I am extremely happy for Maurice as he accepts this position,” said Wheeler in a press statement this afternoon. “Maurice is a trusted friend and has served my administration as an excellent Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives.”
Henderson has led the mayor’s office since Wheeler was elected last year. He previously served as the assistant director for the Portland Bureau of Transportation, held leadership positions working under the past three mayors of Washington, DC, and was the deputy press secretary for former Virginia Governor (and one-time VP candidate) Tim Kaine.
According to Sophia June, spokesperson for the mayor’s office, Henderson’s last day will likely be July 6. He starts his job at TriMet on July 16, where his starting salary will be $200,000. (When Wheeler hired Henderson, he was offered $148,000—it’s unknown what Henderson’s current salary is or what his severance pay will be.)
There’s no one immediately poised to fill Henderson’s shoes. June says Wheeler will meet with his staff over the next few weeks to determine what the hiring process will look like—and she’s unsure if the city will be looking for external candidates.
Henderson’s announcement follows a recent wave of resignations of city bureau directors.
“Serving Mayor Wheeler’s administration and the City of Portland has been one of my greatest professional and personal honors,” says Henderson.
