UPDATED: The mayor has appointed two women to two department director positions that had been left vacant in recent weeks — and both get about $30,000 more a year.
Inson Kim, his longtime advisor who followed him
from the District 7 commission office to the 29th floor, will be the director of the Community Information and Outreach Department.
And Tara C. Smith has become the successor to Lester Sola, heading the Internal Services Department. She was the assistant director since 2013, having moved to the department from the Elections Department, same as Sola.
“Throughout her career with Miami-Dade County, Ms. Kim has continued to succeed as she has grown in responsibility,” Gimenez said in a memo announcing the appointment Thursday. “With her knowledge, skill set and work ethic, I have full confidence will successfully lead the Community Outreach and Information Department.”
Needless to say, with her skyrocketing public career almost completely owed to the mayor — Kim was a “promotions coordinator” in the aviation department 10 years ago when she hooked up with the right commissioner — she will also be loyal. Maybe we can expect the department to promote Gimenez and his “achievements” — surreptitiously, of course — during next year’s election cycle.
Read related story: Lester Sola gets $30K and everyone wants his job
The mayor wasn’t as effusive about Smith, an 11-year county employee who has been overseeing Internal Services since Sola was tapped to head the Water and Sewer department in February. That includes the management of 60 county facilities, more than 4,700 parcels and 55 capital improvement projects with a $550 million budget.
“I am confident that Ms. Smith will lead the Internal Services Department successfully,” is all Gimenez said, asking everyone to extend their support to her in her new role.
Smith currently makes $149,994 a year and her salary goes up to $180,000. Still, not as much as the $222,857 that Lester Sola made in the same position, but he got a $30,000 raise, too, to move over to water and sewer.
Kim makes $127,998 annually but is now going to be making $155,000 — or a $27,000 raise.
What did she do wrong?
How come the press release and statements don’t come with that information?
Two new county directors include mayor’s longtime aide added by Ladra on
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