Filling Shoes

\ Jul 01, 2004

1 min read

Following the announcement of Chief Administrative Officer Jay Czar’s decision to leave office at the June 21 council meeting, Mayor Martin Chavez appointed James B. Lewis as new CAO, effective July 1. Lewis’ current position as chief operations officer tops a résumé that stretches from the U.S. Department of Energy to a previous Albuquerque mayoral race.

Chavez appointed Diana Dorn-Jones as new chief operations officer, Lewis’ old job. Dorn-Jones has a background in banking and currently heads the South Broadway Development Corporation. Chavez noted that Dorn-Jones had probably put more people into housing in Albuquerque than the Bank of America. Both appointments were approved unanimously. Councilor Sally Mayer was excused.

Some City Council members have been working on an economic development plan that gives smaller local businesses a chance at the benefits usually bestowed on large corporations. Two bills sponsored by Councilor Eric Griego passed unanimously, setting the development plan in motion. The Council also authorized design for a $2 million BMX track and velodrome to be built in the sports complex area.