INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard today announced changes in his administration and Capital Improvement Board (CIB).
Chief of Staff Paul Okeson is returning to the private sector and has accepted a mayoral appointment to the Capital Improvement Board. Ballard has appointed Corporation Counsel Chris Cotterill to serve as Chief of Staff.
“The taxpayers of Indianapolis are very fortunate that Paul Okeson served for the past two years as my chief of staff,” said Mayor Ballard. “Paul’s leadership has been crucial as we’ve lowered taxes, lowered crime, and worked to make Indianapolis a more livable city. Paul was instrumental to the City’s bid to host the Super Bowl in 2012 so I am especially pleased that Paul will continue his service to our City by assisting with the CIB.”
“I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity Mayor Ballard gave me to serve the citizens of Indianapolis,” stated Mr. Okeson. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished by working with members of both parties and by listening to what’s on the minds of people who work and live in Marion County. I am honored to continue my service to Mayor Ballard at the CIB.”
During his time as corporation counsel, Cotterill spearheaded the adoption of tough new ethics rules and oversaw the training of all city and county officials, appointees, and employees. He and his team cleared hundreds of backlogged equal opportunity cases stretching back to 2002, cleared a backlog of hundreds of cases in the office of city prosecutor from 2007, cut millions in outside counsel costs, and spearheaded the mayor’s government reform efforts in the General Assembly.
“Mayor Ballard’s leadership has achieved much for our great city,” stated Cotterill. “I’m honored that he has asked me to serve as his chief of staff, and am excited to work in this new role to continue the progress Indianapolis has made over the past two years.”
Mayor Ballard also announced Samantha Karn, chief deputy corporation counsel, will be promoted to corporation counsel, and that Jonathan Mayes will be the new chief deputy corporation counsel, while retaining his current portfolio as chief litigation counsel.
In other appointments, Mayor Ballard announced his new appointments to the Capital Improvement Board. As part of the Mayor’s effort to help the CIB stabilize its financial position, state law requires the appointments to the board be effective Jan. 1. In addition to Mr. Okeson, those appointments are:
• Jim Dora, Jr., president and CEO, General Hotels Corporation
• Ann Lathrop, sales executive for public sector services group at Crowe Horwath
• Carolene Mays, publisher of the Indianapolis Recorder and Indiana Minority Business Magazine
• Jay Potesta, business manager of sheet metal workers, Local Union No. 20
• David Shane, vice president and corporate counsel of LDI, Ltd.
The Governor and the Marion County Board of Commissioners will also make appointments to the Capital Improvement Board prior to Jan. 1.
“I want to thank Bob Grand, outgoing Chairman, and all of the rest of the members of the CIB for their service during this challenging time,” said Ballard. “The financial challenges posed by the new stadium required steadfast leadership and Bob and the members delivered. Thankfully, Anne Lathrop will continue on the board, and I am very pleased to ask the board to elect her chairman of the board when it convenes in January.”
