City officials announced Thursday that Mayor Lenny Curry’s Chief of Staff Brian Hughes will not be replaced after he takes the role of chief administrative officer July 1.
Instead, Curry appointed Jacksonville Neighborhoods Department Director Stephanie Burch as deputy chief administrative officer.
Burch, 42, will report to Hughes who is replacing the retiring Sam Mousa.
Neighborhoods Department Operations Director Bryan Mosier will replace Burch as director, pending City Council approval.
In the announcement, Curry praised Burch’s record.
“Without question, Stephanie’s (Burch) expertise in multiple areas is invaluable to us on a daily basis,” Curry said. “She has done an exceptional job leading one of the largest departments in the city, a department that my administration reinstated in order to focus on the needs of Jacksonville’s diverse communities. I am confident that Stephanie and Brian (Hughes) will provide exemplary leadership, knowledge and experience to help achieve our vision for the future of the city.”
Hughes added, “Stephanie (Burch) is an amazing leader and asset to our team. I am thrilled to have her working with me as we implement the Mayor’s vision over the next four years.”
Burch has led the Neighborhoods Department since November 2016, where she managed Housing and Community Development, Municipal Code Compliance, Environmental Quality, Animal Care and Protective Services, Mosquito Control, Neighborhood Services, 630-City and Consumer Affairs.
Before joining the city in March 2016 as Chief of Real Estate, Burch served as Special Counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation and was an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law.
This story was updated with new information from the city.