A month after the resignation of his chief spokesman, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on Friday named his replacement, current city Public Utilities Commission spokesman Tony Winnicker.
“Tony Winnicker brings years of Bay Area and national experience in strategic communications, public information and media relations to our team,” Newsom said in a prepared statement.
Newsom praised Winnicker’s “knowledge of city government and his key role in promoting major economic and environmental projects.”
Winnicker has been the spokesman for the SFPUC, the agency responsible for regional water distribution, wastewater and power utilities, since 2004. He was also a spokesman for San Francisco’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, and worked for the Democratic National Committee.
Winnicker will assume the post of Newsom’s communications director on Jan. 11.
Newsom’s previous chief spokesman, Nathan Ballard, announced his resignation on Nov. 16.
Newsom, 42, a Democrat, announced Oct. 30 that he was pulling out of the 2010 California governor’s race. His second and final term as San Francisco mayor ends in January 2012.
