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Monisha Harrell named senior deputy mayor

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Monisha Harrell pictured in March 2020 with Senate resolution 8694 that goes along with House bill 1687 also known as the Nikki Kuhnhausen Act, which removes a legal strategy known as the LGBTQ+ panic defense — Photo courtesy of Equal Rights WA
Monisha Harrell pictured in March 2020 with Senate resolution 8694 that goes along with House bill 1687 also known as the Nikki Kuhnhausen Act, which removes a legal strategy known as the LGBTQ+ panic defense — Photo courtesy of Equal Rights WA

LGBTQ activist Monisha Harrell will be senior deputy mayor when Mayor-elect Bruce Harrell is sworn in this coming January.

Monisha Harrell is the mayor-elect's niece and was his campaign manager.

Monisha Harrell (l) pictured in March 2018 next to former HRC President Chad Griffin as WA Governor Jay Inslee signs a ban on conversion practices in the state — Photo courtesy of HRC  

"Monisha Harrell brings over a decade of leadership as one of the state's foremost leaders addressing police reform, including service as a deputy monitor for Seattle's long-standing federal consent decree," said the December 13 announcement from the City of Seattle press office.

Monisha Harrell is perhaps best known as the Chair of Equal Rights Washington. She is also a member of the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund. Previously, she served as a fellow for Lifelong AIDS Alliance and co-chair of the Capitol Hill LGBTQ Public Safety Task Force.

In 2017, she was appointed to the City of Seattle's search committee for the director of police accountability, and in 2018 she co-chaired the De-Escalate Washington campaign committee for I-940, requiring de-escalation training for all law enforcement officers in Washington state.

The governor and attorney general have appointed Harrell to serve on task forces and working groups addressing police accountability, independent investigations involving police use of force, and hate crimes.

Joining her as a deputy mayor will be Tiffany Washington, who will be in charge of housing and homelessness policies. She has served as division director of homelessness in the Seattle Department of Human Services and as deputy director at the Department of Education and Early Learning.

Monisha Harrell and Bruce Harrell pictured at Seattle Pride 2015 — Photo courtesy of Equal Rights WA  

"Our announcement today makes clear that my administration will be centered on competency and urgency," said the mayor-elect.

"My administration will combine ambitious vision and bold, progress-driving ideas with the experienced leadership needed to take action and hit the ground running. I'm proud of the team we're building, united around the common purpose of making Seattle a bright, prosperous, and thriving city for all. Our team will set a new tone and deliver positive change through new energy and proven decisiveness rooted in community relationships and values."

A third deputy mayor — in charge of external relations — has yet to be announced.

"I want that deputy mayor position to focus on what the residents and small businesses demanded from the City when they elected me," said Mayor-elect Harrell.

"The deputy mayor of external relations will help build the external partnerships needed to deliver results in measurable terms."

Another key appointment is former City Councilmember and interim Mayor Tim Burgess, who will serve as director of strategic initiatives, overseeing projects designated by Mayor-elect Harrell as key priorities.

Current City Council Central Staff Deputy Director Dan Eder will serve as director of policy, ensuring that the Mayor's Office is "a driving force behind innovative policy development for the City," Harrell's statement said.

SDOT Transportation Operations Division Director Adiam Emery will join the Mayor's Office in a new role of chief equity officer, charged with ensuring equity across City departments and programs.

NAACP Regional President Gerald Hankerson will join the Harrell administration as external affairs liaison, and construction industry lobbyist Marco Lowe will become chief operations officer.