City Hall
McGinn Hires Sierra Club Leader to Oversee Budget Process
Mayor Mike McGinn has tapped Craig Benjamin, conservation program coordinator for the local chapter of the Sierra Club, to coordinate the city's annual budget process. Sources say Benjamin will serve as an assistant to budget director Beth Goldberg, overseeing the city's internal budget processes.
Prior to running for mayor, McGinn was head of the Sierra Club's local chapter. His legislative director, Craig Engelking, was previously a lobbyist for the Sierra Club chapter.
In an email, Benjamin told Sierra Club members,
Prior to running for mayor, McGinn was head of the Sierra Club's local chapter. His legislative director, Craig Engelking, was previously a lobbyist for the Sierra Club chapter.
In an email, Benjamin told Sierra Club members,
It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to inform all of you that in just over two weeks I will be moving on from Sierra Club. Earlier this week I received an offer that I could not refuse to work in the City of Seattle's Budget Office coordinating the annual budget process.
It has been an honor and a privilege to work with all of you over the past seven months. Your passion and dedication to protecting the planet is truly inspiring; and I hope that once I get settled into my new job I can return to the Club as a volunteer and re-join your amazing efforts.
Please know that [Cascade Chapter director] Trevor [Kaul] and I are already hard at work putting the pieces in place to facilitate an easy and smooth transition for whomever takes on my responsibilities; and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Neither Benjamin nor Kaul immediately returned calls for comment, and mayoral spokesman Mark Matassa said he had no comment.
