Mayor Johnson replaces Milwaukee’s election chief 6 months before 2024 election
Announces four additional new heads for leadership positions
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Monday, May 6, 2024, announced several changes and additions to the leadership staff in his administration.
According to a news release, Paulina Gutiérrez was nominated to serve as the Executive Director of Milwaukee’s Election Commission. In that role, Gutiérrez will oversee the staff and operations of the Election Commission. For more than a year, she has held the position of Deputy Director in that department.
“Paulina’s integrity and capabilities are ideally suited to this position. She will lead the office at an important juncture when public scrutiny of the work of the department will be extremely high,” Mayor Johnson said. “I have confidence in her, and I will make certain the department has the resources it needs to fulfill its duties.”
Gutiérrez has held management positions previously in state and local government, according to the release. She is a graduate of Alverno College and earned a Master of Arts degree from Marquette University.
Mayor Johnson named Jim Bohl to serve as city Innovation Director. In this new position, Bohl will lead administration efforts to improve efficiency, streamline operations, and identify opportunities to work collaboratively with other agencies and governments. Bohl, a former elected city official, previously held senior positions in the Johnson administration including, most recently, Legislative Liaison Director.
Jordan Primakow is the mayor’s nominee to lead Intergovernmental Relations as Legislative Liaison Director. Primakow has been part of the city’s lobbying team for four-and-a-half years. He has previously worked in state government and in not-for-profit organizations. He earned a law degree from Michigan State University after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Khalif Rainey is Mayor Johnson’s choice to be Director of the Office of African American Affairs. Most recently, Rainey served as Alderman for the city’s Seventh District starting in 2016. He opted not to run for reelection in 2024. Earlier in his career, Rainey was a Milwaukee County Supervisor, and he served on the staff of Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
Veronica Rudychev will return to Milwaukee city government as the mayor’s nominee to be Labor Negotiator. Rudychev previously served at the Milwaukee Police Budget and Administration Manager, and, most recently as Milwaukee County’s Park’s Finance Manager. She earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and has held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. Rudychev worked as a Mequon firefighter and was the union treasurer during her service there.
Mayor Johnson, according to the release, intends to re-nominate other cabinet officials who have served in positions over the past two years, including the heads of larger departments such as public works, health, neighborhood services, city development and the library.
The newly nominated officials at elections, intergovernmental relations, and labor negotiations will require Milwaukee Common Council confirmation, as will most of the re-appointed department heads.
