![]() ![]() “Even though the Common Council role that I was in was sort of a part-time, on-top-of-everything-else-I-was-doing role, there are so many amazing people that work for the city, all the way down from DPW to police and fire and the department heads,” she said. Mohlenhoff said she’s especially looking forward to getting to once again work with staff members who she misses “on a daily basis.” And I think, having been on the elected official side and knowing very well what that role is and how that functions, moving over to the other side will only make it easier for me to do that really crucial piece.” You sort of want to make sure that all of those channels are open and organized and coordinated. “And the person in the role of chief of staff has to be that bridge or that conduit information to go from the legislative body or from the Common Council to the staff, from the staff to the community, from the community to the council. “We need communication going up, down, left, right, sideways, every way,” she said. Her history with the city has also led to a great number of community and government connections, Mohlenhoff added, which will help her in what she described as the “traffic directing” piece of her role. I just can’t wait to get in there and help the city transition to this new form of government.” “And that’s what nerdy government me is super excited to do. “All of the nuts and bolts and the behind-the-scenes pieces that need to be modified in order to change the form of government of the city, you really need someone paying attention to those details,” she said. Mohlenhoff said that, in her time as alderperson, she really enjoyed the “nuts and bolts, day-to-day operational things” - experience she expects to use in her upcoming role, especially as it pertains to changes resulting from the addition of a city manager. Mohlenhoff is also the current co-chair of the United Way of Tompkins County Campaign and chair of the Operating Committee for the Special Olympics State Summer Games. She also led the working groups that both changed the city’s commissions structure and recommended the city manager referendum, the latter of which passed this November. Her higher education work brought her to Ithaca College and, later, to Tompkins Cortland.ĭuring her time on Common Council, Mohlenhoff established and chaired the Government Performance and Accountability committee and served as chair of the City Administration committee and the city’s budget process. She graduated from Ithaca College with a bachelor’s in communications in 1992 and earned her master’s in public administration from Binghamton University in 2005. Mohlenhoff has quite the history in the area, having lived in Ithaca for over three decades. And there’s a lot of retirements, and we have new council members, and they’re dealing with some pretty hefty issues.” I know there’s been a lot of change at the city. “I wasn’t necessarily really thinking about it, but … there was a vacancy there, and it was kind of a vacancy that has a little bit of an immediate need. “I was really honored to get a call from Laura after she got elected to talk to me about this as a possibility for me,” she said. She said she’s glad to soon be serving under Lewis’s upcoming administration. For 12 years, beginning during former Mayor Carolyn Peterson’s tenure, Mohlenhoff served as an alderperson for the city’s 5th Ward, and in January of 2014, she was designated as acting mayor by former Mayor Svante Myrick. This new role will mark Mohlenhoff’s return to city government. ![]() Deb’s experience with complex organizational management will be crucial as the city enters this new era.” In addition, with the passage of the referendum for city manager, we will need someone to assist the city with the transition to a new form of government. “Her professional background and expertise will help city staff advance a range of initiatives. “I am thrilled to be inviting Deb back to City Hall where her familiarity with city staff and operations will be incredibly valuable as I begin my term as the elected mayor of the city,” Lewis said in the announcement, referencing her latest election win. ![]() Mohlenhoff ended her most recent role as associate vice president of college relations at Tompkins Cortland Community College just this week and will begin her new chief of staff role Jan. Photo provided.Įarlier this month, the City of Ithaca announced that Acting Mayor Laura Lewis has appointed Deb Mohlenhoff as the city’s next chief of staff ( /2h2qfszc). Mohlenhoff will begin her role in January of next year. Deb Mohlenhoff, former associate vice president of college relations at Tompkins Cortland Community College, was recently named as the next chief of staff for the city of Ithaca by Acting Mayor Laura Lewis. ![]()
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