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Holmes Announces Starting Lineup

News   December 8, 2009 at 4:21 pm Erica C. Barnett

City Attorney-Elect Pete Holmes has announced the first members of his new administration, including two new and two old positions. The lineup:

Fury Bailey attorney Craig Sims will replace current Criminal Division head Bob Hood. Sims spent more than a decade in the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jean Boler, currently head of the city attorney’s employment section, will replace current Civil Division head Suzanne Skinner.

Darby DuComb, a former public defender and assistant city attorney who currently heads up the city’s Customer Service Bureau, will become Holmes’ chief of staff, a new position.

And Dorsey & Whitney attorney John Schochet will become Holmes’ special counsel and policy advisor, also a new position.

Footnote: Perhaps the most exciting thing about today’s press release? The fact that it came from Kathy Mulady, a well-liked longtime reporter who has taken over as Holmes’ volunteer communications director—volunteer because the city attorney, unlike the mayor, does not get any money for a transition team. Mulady says her position is still “unofficial,” but her number starts with 684, which sounds pretty official to us.

Mulady says Holmes is continuing to meet with “6, 8, 10″ attorneys in the city attorney’s office every day, out of a small transition office in a corner of city hall. She expects “there will be more” announcements about comings and goings in the coming days.


  • Janet Way

    It’s great news for justice in Seattle to have Kathy Mulady working in the Holmes administration! You go girl!

  • Gidge

    Craig Sims is a great hire.

  • Gidge

    Craig Sims is a great hire.

  • tedb310

    It’s odd that in today’s era of belt tightening that is occurring in all levels of government Mr. Holmes is adding positions to the department. Especially positions that are administrative and seem to support mainly the executive office. Also, why unlike any of his predecessors does he need a policy adviser? Is is because as was alleged during the campaign, he’s not qualified for the job?

  • tedb310

    It’s odd that in today’s era of belt tightening that is occurring in all levels of government Mr. Holmes is adding positions to the department. Especially positions that are administrative and seem to support mainly the executive office. Also, why unlike any of his predecessors does he need a policy adviser? Is is because as was alleged during the campaign, he’s not qualified for the job?

  • aff

    Craig Sims is a fantastic attorney and will be a great head of the Criminal Division!

  • aff

    Craig Sims is a fantastic attorney and will be a great head of the Criminal Division!

  • Henry Alzate

    I’ve known Darby DuComb for nine years and she is smart and dedicated to improving government. She had done a bang up job in starting the Customer Service Bureau. She will be a tremendous addition to the City Attorney’s office. Holmes is to be congratulated for his ability to spot and hire great talent for his office. Mr. Holmes is off to an excellent start.

  • http://None Henry Alzate

    I’ve known Darby DuComb for nine years and she is smart and dedicated to improving government. She had done a bang up job in starting the Customer Service Bureau. She will be a tremendous addition to the City Attorney’s office. Holmes is to be congratulated for his ability to spot and hire great talent for his office. Mr. Holmes is off to an excellent start.

  • Because

    (in response to #3) the current policies and procedures in the office are a mess. Ethically and otherwise. Do you have a clue about the difficulties municipal counsel have representing various executive agencies, plus the city council, and avoid conflicts? Have you studied RPC 1.7 and 1.13? Apparently Tom Carr didn’t either.

  • Because

    (in response to #3) the current policies and procedures in the office are a mess. Ethically and otherwise. Do you have a clue about the difficulties municipal counsel have representing various executive agencies, plus the city council, and avoid conflicts? Have you studied RPC 1.7 and 1.13? Apparently Tom Carr didn’t either.

  • TooBadSeattle

    Yeah, with budgets in crises, why does Holmes need a “chief of staff” and a “special counsel”? Isn’t he the people’s chief counsel? Why hire a policy adviser when you can talk to folks in the office for free to learn what they do and cultivate change? There are a lot of incredibly talented, intelligent, and experienced hard-working people, a.k.a. “human resources” at the City Attorney’s office. Holmes is firing folks left and right, many without having a basic informational conversation with them. This is idiocy without a plan and a squandering of city resources in tough economic times. What a clueless fool.

  • TooBadSeattle

    Yeah, with budgets in crises, why does Holmes need a “chief of staff” and a “special counsel”? Isn’t he the people’s chief counsel? Why hire a policy adviser when you can talk to folks in the office for free to learn what they do and cultivate change? There are a lot of incredibly talented, intelligent, and experienced hard-working people, a.k.a. “human resources” at the City Attorney’s office. Holmes is firing folks left and right, many without having a basic informational conversation with them. This is idiocy without a plan and a squandering of city resources in tough economic times. What a clueless fool.

  • Janet Way

    It's great news for justice in Seattle to have Kathy Mulady working in the Holmes administration! You go girl!