Mount Vernon replaces IDA director with former Obama team member

The city of Mount Vernon has hired two former officials of the Department of Agriculture during the Obama administration to serve in development roles.

Mayor Richard Thomas announced the appointment of Stacey Brayboy as executive director of the Industrial Development Agency for $108,000 a year. She replaces Sean McIntyre who was hired in August after Thomas fired the previous director.

She was approved at a special meeting of the IDA on April 6, according to city spokeswoman Maria Donovan. The meeting was not posted on the city’s website.

Brayboy worked on Obama”™s presidential transition team, according to her LinkedIn profile. She held several positions in the Department of Agriculture, including chief of staff for Food and Nutrition Services and then chief of staff for the agency”™s financial officer.

Thomas named Elvis Cordova and his Statecraft Strategies LLC of Alexandria, Virginia, as a consultant for the Urban Renewal Agency, for $8,000 a month. He will help with grants and with issues such as compliance with federal laws, according to Donovan. He also held positions in the Department of Agriculture, including undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs.

Thomas has said previously that the IDA will be the city”™s economic engine. Eight months ago the agency had one employee, executive director Margaret Finlayson. Besides McIntyre and, Brayboy, the agency has hired Donovan as strategic director for $95,000 a year and Roberta James as business development director for $86,000 a year.

It also has hired two consultants: Daniel Macom, president of DJM Inc., to provide media services for $85 an hour and Michael R. Gianatasio of Universal Engineering Services for code enforcement for $150 an hour.

McIntyre, according to the announcement, remains on staff as transitional director. He declined to discuss the transition.