LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's next mayor has announced his new transition team, which will lead him through the process up to inauguration day in January.
It's comprised of community, labor and business leaders, and includes several elected officials -- including two notable Republicans, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams (District 36) and Louisville Councilmember Anthony Piagentini (District 19).
"I'm very excited for our team to get to work," Mayor-elect Craig Greenberg (D) said on Wednesday. "Louisville is a very diverse city, and one thing I heard loud and clear while I was running for mayor was that the city needed to be unified... that we listen and [that] everyone has input regardless of their political affiliation."
The 58-person team is divided into four committees: public safety; city budget and operations; economic development and housing; public health and public services.
- Former Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown will chair the Public Safety committee.
- Local leaders Dr. Muhammad Babar and Councilwoman Nicole George will lead the Public Health and Public Services committee.
- Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey, Christy Lanier Robinson and Riggs Lewis will co-chair the Economic Development and Housing committee.
- Metro Council President David James and Dana Mayton will co-chair the City Budget and Operations committee.
"The amazing experience and diversity of our team will ensure our administration gets off to a strong start with a focus on our city's top priorities," Greenberg said.
Former Metro Councilmember for the downtown district, Barbara Sexton Smith, will be a special advisor to the transition team.
Kentucky State Rep. Keturah Herron (D) and former LMPD interim chief Yvette Gentry are also on the public safety committee.
"We've gotten a chance to know each other during the campaign, and I thought she had a wealth of experience -- just like so many others on this transition team," Greenberg said about Gentry, who led the police department to close 2020.
Founding Senior Pastor at Spirit Filled New Life Church Ministries -- and former police officer -- Dr. Steven Kelsey likes the effort he's seeing from the mayor elect.
"Well he's been doing real good reaching out to the African-American community and faith-based community," Kelsey said. "I feel there is a gap between community and police -- community against community. If we could just come together, and galvanize together and understand that we're all the same even though we're different."
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Greenberg made clear these aren't necessarily his selections to work within his administration, and that personnel decisions will start being made in the coming weeks.
He went on to add that while this is his "official transition team," he considers everyone in Louisville part of his team.
"If you see me out and about, please share your thoughts," Greenberg said.
Since launching his new website, the mayor-elect says over 150 people from across the city have submitted applications to work with the administration.
Greenberg says his team has also received more than 200 suggestions for improving the city including transportation, a location for a new amphitheater, funding various agencies, and even finding a "superhero" for the city.
"Please keep the good people and good ideas coming," he said.
Greenberg said additional personnel decisions will be coming in the next few weeks, as well as a committee dedicated to his inauguration.
"We have already begun to consider the structure of our administration," he said. "Do not assume it will be the same as it currently is."
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