City Hall staff on the move

With the exit of the mayor and three City Council members, a lot of City Hall staffers are pondering change and looking for new jobs. Lesley Varghese, who has been chief of staff for Mayor Steve Adler, tells the Austin Monitor she is moving to the SAFE Alliance to serve as its new president and chief legal officer, effective Jan. 1. Kelly White retired from the job earlier this year after several decades of service.

Although Council Member Pio Renteria is retiring in January, his chief of staff, Lizette Melendez, is joining the new District 3 team of Council member-elect José Velásquez. Renteria noted that Melendez started at the front desk in his office, then got a master’s degree and worked elsewhere before rejoining his office as chief of staff. Velásquez wrote on his Facebook page, “I personally feel blessed that she was available and willing to come serve with us.” Velásquez told the Monitor that Dora Anguiano, who has handled constituent services for Council Member Ann Kitchen for many years, will also be joining his staff.

Nici Huff, who has worked for Council Member Kathie Tovo for several years, will become a policy adviser in the office of Council Member Leslie Pool. Pool said Huff will handle some policy work as well as scheduling and constituent services.