Today marks the first day of work for Portland's newest city commissioner, Jo Ann Hardesty. But she's not the only one starting a new job on City Hall's second floor this week. Hardesty is joined in her brand-new office by her brand-new staff, made up of community organizers, former campaign staff, and financial experts. While she shared the names of a few potential staff last year, Hardesty's full staff lineup has only recently been made public. Here's what you should know about the incoming commissioner's team.
We'll start with the most anticipated hire, Kristin Johnson, a city employee who will serve as Hardesty's financial policy advisor. (Hardesty is also the only commissioner who has a dedicated financial advisor.)
Hardesty made headlines in September after an OPB investigation revealed that while Hardesty was president of the Portland NAACP, she had paid her own consulting firm to work on an NAACP event—and neglected to report that income to the federal government. In following interviews, including one with the Portland Mercury, Hardesty admitted she had made a mistake and said that, if elected, she would hire someone with strong financial chops to make sure she doesn't make a similar error with taxpayer dollars.
That person appears to be Johnson, a longtime financial analyst in the City of Portland's Office of of Management and Finance. According to Johnson's LinkedIn profile, she's spent the last decade assessing the the city's budget and longterm funding plans. An internal hire of someone trusted enough to balance the city budget may help assuage lingering concerns over Hardesty's financial missteps.
Hardesty has also promoted her campaign chair, Karly Edwards, to chief of staff. Like Hardesty, Edwards has a history of activist organizing, from representing the Oregon Nurses Association to working as the director of the Oregon Working Families Party for three years.
Hardesty has plucked Derek Bradley to serve as her policy director. Bradley spent the past few years working to fine-tune and analyze local ballot initiatives. Most recently, Bradley penned the City Club's critical review of Measure 103, a failed ballot measure that would have banned future taxes from grocery stores.
To lead her communications team, Hardesty has selected Lokyee Au, a former communications manager for both the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon. Matt McNally, Hardesty's campaign field director, will serve as the commissioner's community outreach coordinator, and Angelita Morillo will be Hardesty's administrative assistant.
R. Lyne Martin-Modica is the only carry-over from former Commissioner Dan Saltzman's office. She'll act as Hardesty's office manager.
