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MAYOR ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2009
CONTACT:
David Beltran
(213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ELEVATES SENIOR PRESS SECRETARY MATT SZABO TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF
As Deputy Chief of Staff, Szabo will serve as administration’s problem-solver, trouble-shooter and crisis manager
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced additional changes to his administration, elevating Senior Press Secretary and chief spokesperson Matt Szabo to Deputy Chief of Staff.
"For the past three years, Matt Szabo has been the voice of my administration in the L.A. media, and always performed best when crisis called for tough, decisive action," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "Now, as these challenging times require tough, decisive leadership, Matt will serve as a voice of my administration throughout the corridors of City Hall."
As Deputy Chief of Staff, Szabo will serve as one of the Mayor’s chief strategists, problem-solvers and crisis-managers. He will be initially charged with coordinating a renewed effort to solve the City’s budget crisis in the face of ongoing economic recession.
Szabo will report to Rev. Jeff Carr, Mayor Villaraigosa’s recently-named Chief of Staff. In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the administration, Rev. Carr will oversee the Mayor’s efforts on budget and finance, labor relations, homeland security and public safety, gang reduction and youth development and strategic partnerships with the non-profit and philanthropic sector.
"Matt Szabo has the full trust and confidence of this administration," Rev. Carr said. "People inside and outside of City Hall need to understand that when Matt is deployed to take on an issue or solve a problem, he speaks for me and he speaks for the mayor."
Szabo has extensive experience in driving policy initiatives and developing and executing communications strategies. Serving as the Mayor’s chief spokesperson for the prior two years, Szabo holds extensive knowledge of a broad range of city issues and policy areas central to the Mayor’s administration.
Szabo’s experience in Los Angeles government includes working as press secretary to former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, and as director of legislation and communications for then-City Councilmember Wendy Greuel.
Szabo also served former Mayor Richard Riordan as City Council Liaison and State Government Affairs Manager, and later as deputy press secretary for Mayor Riordan’s gubernatorial campaign.
Szabo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame and attended the School of Policy, Planning and Development at the University of Southern California.
Mayor Villaraigosa’s naming of Szabo to Deputy Chief of Staff continues a series of recent changes in his administration, which includes naming of Rev. Carr as Chief of Staff, Jay Carson as Chief Deputy Mayor and Guillermo Cespedes as Director of Gang Reduction and Youth Development.