CLEVELAND — As he prepares to assume the role of Cuyahoga County Executive, Chris Ronayne has announced three key appointments to his cabinet.
“I’ve spent the last two years speaking with residents and stakeholders throughout Cuyahoga County on what they want to see in their government,” said Ronayne in a statement. “I am excited to build a team that will create solutions for our most pressing issues and deliver results for our residents.”
Ronayne defeated Lee Weingart in the November election to replace Armond Budish, who had previously decided not to seek a third term in office.
Here are Ronayne's three cabinet appintments:
Nailah Byrd - Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Justice and Safety;
Katie Gallagher - Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Operations and Community Innovation;
David Razum - Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Communications and Strategy.
“These are leaders who understand what it means to get things done and will prioritize the delivery of county services and the effectiveness of county government.” Ronayne added. “Nailah, Katie, and David have the knowledge and the leadership skills to move our county forward and they will bring a spirit of collaboration and innovation to our government.”
All three new hires will report directly to Chief of Staff Eric Wobser.
Nailah K. Byrd comes over to Ronayne's staff after serving as Clerk of Courts for Cuyahoga County since 2015. According to a release, Byrd "will develop and execute a long-term strategy focused on public safety and justice services throughout the County and will work with departments including the medical examiner’s office, Sheriff’s department, and public safety & justice services."
Katie Gallagher will step down from her position as Mayor of Brooklyn to lead the Cuyahoga County's internal operational efforts and "will champion improvements through innovation as Chief of Operations and Community Innovation."
David Razum was Ronayne's campaign manager and a co-director of his transition team. In his new role, he will serve as Chief of Communications and Strategy and "will be charged with building and executing the County’s overall communication strategy and implementing the administration’s strategic plan."
Editor's Note: The videos featured in this story are from Russ Mitchell's one-on-one interview with outgoing Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish.