Mayor-elect Mike McGinn has opted to reboot the search for former Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske's permanent replacement.

"I am currently contacting members appointed to the search committee by Mayor Greg Nickels to see which of them wish to continue to serve with the new administration," McGinn said in a release.

Outgoing Mayor Greg Nickels set up a 24-member police chief search committee prior to the election, which became a point of contention between McGinn and his opponent Joe Mallahan (remember that guy?), who wanted to set up his own search team. McGinn said he was comfortable going forward with Nickels' 24-member panel, so it's unclear why McGinn is (all but) starting from scratch now.

Of the original panel, only co-chair Kate Joncas remains on board. She will apparently be joined by Charles Rolland, Board President for Community and Parents for Public Schools of Seattle and city council member Bruce Harrell.

The previous 24-member panel was:

James Armstrong, an attorney and member of the Loren Miller Bar Association

Robert Boruchowitz from the Seattle University School of Law

Tina Bueche, current member Office of Professional Accountability Review Board

Terry Carroll, a former judge and member of Mayor Greg Nickels' blue ribbon panel on police accountability.

Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis

Louise Chernin of the Greater Seattle Business Association

Dave Freiboth of the King County Labor Council

Kay Godefroy, Executive Director of the Seattle Neighborhood Group and planner in the city's Drug Market Initiative program.

Pramila Jayapal of OneAmerica

Ahoua Kone from the Seattle Immigration and Family Law group

Roberto Maestas—El Centro de la Raza

Michael Malon—Hunters Capital

State Senator Ed Murray

Seattle Police Officers Guild President Rich O'Neill

Cindy Potter of the Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors

South Precinct Lieutenant Eric Sano, also of the Seattle Police Management Association

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg

Mary Ellen Stone from the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

Kathleen Taylor of the A.C.L.U.

Tony To from Homesight

Rev. Harriet Walden from Mothers for Police Accountability

Rev. Aaron Williams of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

and Co-Chairs Kate Joncas of the Downtown Seattle Association

and Kim Hyeck of the Interim Community Development Association

We've contacted the mayor-elect's office to find out what happened, and whether they actually think they can complete a search for a new chief in the next four months.

Update: McGinn's office emailed me back to split hairs, saying they're not "starting from scratch" and that they're checking in with members of Nickels' panel to see if they're still interested in being part of the search committee. However, bringing on a new co-chair—not to mention a new committee member—kinda gives the appearance of starting over, methinks.