Williams administration welcomes 18 staffers

Following his inauguration last week, Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams’ new administration is taking shape. 

The mayor has appointed 18 managers to leadership positions in the city including new Fire Chief Anthony Goode and new Chief of Police, Christine Dunning. Both choices, have decades of experience in their departments.

After officially securing the seat in November, Williams announced a transition team including his new Chief of Staff, John Matlusky who worked as policy attorney and former chief of staff for the Delaware State House of Representatives.

Harold Gray, businessman and former vice president of United Way of Delaware was named as director of economic development. Other members of the transition team included Leonard Sophrin, director of policy, Alexandra Coppadge, communications and media relations and former Delaware state treasurer Velda Jones-Potter as chief strategy advisor.

At the end of 2012, Williams appointed a handful of staffers with impressive resumes including Sophia Hanson, who has worked in the City’s Planning Department for the past decade, to take over as Director of Planning. He also named seasoned attorney Michael Migliore as City Solicitor. Migliore served as legal aide to Vice President Joseph Biden during his term as U.S. Senator in Delaware. He also re-appointed Jefferey Starkey who has been the city’s Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections since 2001.

Additional appointments include Earl Jeter, city auditor; Jacqueline Jenkins, director of human resources; Laura Papas, director of finance; Kenneth Briscoe, director of communication and cultural affairs; Claude McCrae, director of parks and recreation; Nailah Gilliam, acting director of real estate and housing and Jill Morrison, director of constituent services. Kash Srinivasan will serve as interim commissioner of public works.