Mayor Kasim Reed didn’t just hire one of the three finalists for the position of Atlanta’s Public Works commissioner. The mayor hired two of the three to lead the department.
Reed selected Richard Mendoza, assistant director of public works of San Antonio, Texas, to become Atlanta’s commissioner of Public Works. The mayor selected Dexter White, director of public works for Richmond, to become the deputy director of the department.
Reed called Mendoza “a tough, tested leader who has delivered concrete results for the city of San Antonio.”
“Mendoza’s background as an engineer will bring a depth and breadth of skills to this position and make a tangible difference in improving the customer service and efficiency of the public works department,” Reed said. “This department plays a critical role in maintaining the quality of life for our city’s residents and business owners.”
Mendoza earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I University and a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University-San Marcos.
The announcement of the two finalists being selected to run the Public Works Department came just a couple of days after Reed selected Joya De Foor to be the city’s chief financial officer, and also selected another finalist from that national search, J. Anthony Beard, to work in that department on special projects as a deputy.
Reed still needs to fill his cabinet positions of city attorney and two of the highest profile seats, airport director and police chief.
-John Schaffner