Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announces hires, including former Council member

Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration is starting to take shape.

O'Connell announced the first batch of appointments in his administration Tuesday morning, a day after he was sworn into office.

Among the eight appointments are four new hires. O'Connell said he will be announcing more appointments to his administration in the coming weeks and months.

Among the most notable appointments is former At-large Councilmember Bob Mendes as chief development officer. Mendes, who was chair of Metro Council's East Bank Stadium Committee, strongly opposed the city's deal to build a new Titans stadium and published a 10-page memorandum in February making his case. Mendes works as an attorney at Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison.

Marjorie Pomeroy-Wallace, O'Connell's campaign manager who previously worked for former U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, will be O'Connell's chief of staff.

Alex Apple, a former reporter who handled communications for O'Connell's campaign, will be deputy communications director and press secretary.

Katy Varney will be the interim director of communications. Varney retired from a 30-year career at MP&F Strategic Communications earlier this year, where she was the firm's first female partner. Varney has also worked in national and state governmental affairs, including in the White House staff of Vice President Walter Mondale and as former Gov. Ned McWherter's chief lobbyist.

Those who are staying on from previous Mayor John Cooper's administration include Wally Dietz as director of Metro Legal. Cooper appointed him to the role in June 2021. He previously worked at Bass, Berry & Sims as a compliance and government investigations attorney.

Kristin Wilson will continue to serve as chief of operations and performance, which she has done since September 2019. Wilson has experience in the private and public sectors, including as deputy chief operating officer for the City of Atlanta from 2011-2018.

Kathy Floyd-Buggs will remain as director of neighborhoods, where she has been since November 2019, according to her LinkedIn. Her career includes work with a number of nonprofits and as office director for Rep. Jim Cooper.

Bonita Dobbins will remain as the office's administrative assistant.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell makes hires, including Bob Mendes