[B]URLINGTON — Mayor Miro Weinberger announced Tuesday his selection of Luke McGowan as the new director of the city’s Community and Economic Development Office.
McGowan, 34, is a consultant living in South Woodstock and had worked for Thumbtack, a San Francisco-based website which helps people connect with local professionals for services. He previously worked in the Obama White House and as a speechwriter for then-Vice President Joe Biden.
The director of the community development office is one of the most prominent figures in city government, as the office oversees a variety of city initiatives including housing, economic development and community engagement initiatives.
Weinberger said McGowan brings management experience in both the public and private sectors, experience as a community organizer and experience working with small businesses and entrepreneurs.
“We expect CEDO to support both our business community, as well as our nonprofit and community justice communities, and Luke brings a rare quality of having served in a number of those different roles,” Weinberger said.
David White, the the city’s planning and zoning director, had been serving as interim CEDO director since January 1. He replaced Neale Lunderville, who was the interim CEDO director from May 2018 through the end of 2018.
McGowan’s appointment needs to be approved by the city council, which meets June 3. If approved, he would assume the position July 8.
Weinberger said McGowan does not have experience with development projects, which remains a CEDO responsibility. He said his administration is proposing adding an “assistant director for community works” position to CEDO in this year’s budget process which would manage projects.
“We are…trying to add some capacity to the Community and Economic Development Office so the director can be focused on the broad CEDO mission, and not drawn into the day-to-day management of these high-profile special projects,” Weinberger said.
Ongoing projects under CEDO’s purview include a potential Memorial Auditorium renovation, the Moran Plant renovation and managing the city’s role in the CityPlace development.
CEDO also works on housing initiatives, oversees the city’s Community Justice Center and provides support for the city’s Neighborhood Planning Assemblies.
McGowan said CEDO is a “unique” governmental entity with a large mandate touching many different issues, from social equity and economic development to community justice.
“It kind of checks a lot of boxes, and though that creates challenges from funding and structuring of the department, it also creates real opportunity,” he said. “I think the history of CEDO shows that it has the ability to accomplish the goals that the people of Burlington want to see for their city.”
McGowan graduated in May 2017 from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and has been living in Vermont and consulting for small businesses and nonprofits. He has also been the interim chief operations officer for Montreal-based nonprofit Plus 1, which connects artists and bands to nonprofits.
At Thumbtack, McGowan worked as the head of public policy and small business advocate. He said his experience at Thumbtack helped him learn about how governments interact with small-businesses, knowledge he would bring to his new role with CEDO.
“Cities, states and governments can make it easier or harder for you to do that job,” he said. “I’m really passionate about figuring out how can a city like Burlington make it easier for small businesses like that to make a living.”
Before joining Thumbtack in 2012, he worked in the White House Office of Legislative affairs from 2010 to 2012, and as a speechwriter for Biden from 2009 to 2010. He worked for the Obama campaign after graduating from Columbia University in 2007.
The city received 30 applications in its search, which started in February. McGowan will make $109,030 if his nomination is confirmed.
McGowan said he is planning on moving to Burlington with his wife and one-year-old son and said he is looking forward to engaging the community in his early months in the job.
