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Dan Johnson To Join Littlefield Team At City Hall

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Dan Johnson, who threw his support to Ron Littlefield and helped him get elected mayor, is slated to join him at City Hall.

Mayor-Elect Littlefield said Wednesday he expects Mr. Johnson will be part of the incoming administration.

He said the exact position has not yet been worked out.

Mr. Johnson, who is due to retire in July from the Johnson, Hickey and Murchison CPA firm he founded in 1977, said, "I am willing to help Ron in any way I can."

In the March 1 city election, Ann Coulter was first, Mr. Littlefield second and Mr. Johnson third.

It was a boost to the Littlefield campaign when Mr. Johnson went to his headquarters that night and pledged his support. Mr. Johnson said one factor was a Coulter TV ad that listed an old bankruptcy he had filed. He said the bankruptcy was related to helping out a relative who had a business fail.

Mr. Johnson helped campaign during the runoff election and he was at Littlefield headquarters on 11th Street joining in the victory celebration on Tuesday night.

Mr. Littlefield said he was taking a one-day vacation, then would get to work on Thursday planning the new administration.

He said he will be meeting with current administrators, including public works administrator Bill McDonald, who has told his staff he was retiring. Mr. McDonald said recently he would consider staying on if requested to do so.

One post Mr. Littlefield is expected to take a close look at is parks and recreation. Administrator Jerry Mitchell was a Coulter supporter.

Mr. Littlefield said he will keep Police Chief Steve Parks, but he said he would look at other jobs, including Fire Chief - now held by Jim Coppinger.

Daisy Madison recently moved up to city finance director, replacing David Eichenthal. She and Kenardo Curry, who heads neighborhood services, are among black members of the Corker administration. Ms. Madison was with county finance before joining the city finance department.

Mr. Littlefield idicated he plans to seek changes in the authority now vested in the Urban Design Studio.

He said its director, Stroud Watson, "is retired or is in the process of retiring." Mr. Watson was a Coulter backer.

Mr. Littlefield said an increasing number of projects have to go through the Urban Design Studio, which he said often makes decisions that are "subjective."

He said developers need an objective list of requirements they must meet on projects.


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