Even as he named two former key aides to Mayor Richard M. Daley to lead his transition into office, Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel downplayed the ties to Daley as he introduced the transition team during his second press conference since Tuesday’s election.
The team of seven includes David Mosena, a former Daley chief of staff who now is president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, and Sarah Pang, a senior vice president at CNA, who served as deputy chief of staff for Daley for 9 years.
“I reject the idea that they’re not new. They are. Yes, they’re experienced. I want experienced hands. I also want people with fresh ideas,” Emanuel said. “I think we’ve struck a perfect balance.”
Emanuel emphasized the geographic diversity of his team and its members’ breadth of experience. The group includes Rebecca Gonzalez, a vice president of Casa Central, a national social services network based in Humboldt Park; Rev. Byron Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of god in Woodlawn; Felicia Davis, a vice president at Kendall College and a former Chicago police officer; Judy Erwin, an Illinois state representative from 1992 to 2003 and Steve Koch, a vice chairman at Credit Suisse.
“I wanted all of our neighborhoods represented. And they have a fresh level of energy,” Emanuel said.
Pang’s experience with the Chicago Police Department — in 1997 she led the search committee that picked Terry Hillard as police superintendent — could be of particular value to Emanuel as he seeks a replacement for Supt. Jody Weis, whose contract expires March 1.
“Sarah is a dear friend of mine, Emanuel said. “She knows a lot about how the mayor’s office runs. She did work on picking a police chief, who I got to work with, who I thought did a tremendous job. I think Sarah’s a gold mine for our city. I want to tap those resources.”
Emanuel dodged questions over what cabinet appointments he may make between now and his inauguration in May. He otherwise spoke in generalities about the “seven primary issues” that would be the focus of his team: economic development, K-12 and post-secondary education, the city budget, public safety, transportation and infrastructure, the environment, and arts and culture.
“Is each department budget achieving it’s goal? That’s a question we’re going to ask. Is there a better way to do it? That’s a question we’re going to ask. Who are the people to lead these agencies?” Emanuel said these would be the questions his team will bring to their review of city services. They will also create a “charter-like” agency to bring him entrepreneurial ideas.
“If you’re in the private sector, if you’re in academia, in foundations, the non-profits world, now is the time to sharpen your resume. Bring it forward,” he said.
He promised to make the transition team’s report available to the public.