Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has named communications deputy Melissa Mullinax as his new senior advisor.
Mullinax, who begins her new role immediately, will work with Reed on legislative issues and serve as a liaison to other government officials and community organizations, according to a statement released by Reed’s office. Mullinax will also play a role in commission appointments.
She has largely worked as the deputy director of communications since joining the city two years ago, overseeing public relations strategies for operational departments. Her new salary wasn’t immediately available.
“Melissa has been an invaluable member of my senior team since 2012,” Reed said in a statement. “Throughout her career, she has shown a deep dedication to serving communities across Atlanta and Georgia. In this new role, she brings with her a wealth of knowledge in public affairs, strategic communications and politics.”
Prior to joining Reed’s administration, Mullinax worked in politics, communications and grassroots organization.
Mullinax was formerly the government affairs advisor to the Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. In that role, she helped develop relationships between the tribe, governments and businesses. She also previously served as the Southern Regional Political Director for the Service Employees International Union in the mid-2000s, according to the city.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Mayor Reed and the administration on critical policy initiatives and external affairs,” Mullinax said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our community and government partners to ensure that strategic partnerships and effective communications are assets for, and deliver value to, what I believe is the greatest city in America.”
Mullinax is filling a position left vacant by former senior advisor Michael Sterling. Reed tapped Sterling to lead the embattled Atlanta Workforce Development in recent months following the sudden retirement of Deborah Lum in May. Lum retired days after an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution uncovered mismanagement and abuse of public tax dollars.
The mayor has a few positions yet to fill after a string of departures since he was re-elected last November.
Reed has yet to name a new executive director of Invest Atlanta after former head Brian McGowan left in March to join the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The mayor must also find a permanent replacement for former parks commissioner George Dusenbury, who left earlier this year. Amy Phuong is serving as interim of the department.
Following former chief operating officer Duriya Farooqui’s departure in January, Reed named Michael Geisler as the city’s COO. Reed has since tapped Samir Saini as commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Anne Torres as the director of communications.
Reed will not, however, need to immediately search for a new chief financial officer as current CFO Jim Beard withdrew his interest in becoming the new city manager of Coral Gables, Fla.
The Coral Gables City Commission named Beard its finalist last week, but Beard withdrew his name in recent days for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. The Miami Herald reports his withdrawal could stem from a 2004 personal bankruptcy and other legal troubles that came to light during his background check. Beard said on Tuesday that he pulled out of the running because the commission was not willing to sign a three-year minimum contract.
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