Paul Rose, who has been the spokesman for Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums for nearly three years, announced today that he’s leaving to become the new media relations manager for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
“It’s been an honor to serve the people of Oakland and work under Ron Dellums,” Rose said.
Rose said he’s leaving because, “This is an opportunity to work with Muni and communicate a lot of the good news they have going on over there.”
He said, “This is something I’m excited about.”
Rose replaced Karen Stevenson, who resigned as Dellums’ spokesman in August 2007 after only seven months on the job.
Rose has frequently spoken on Dellums’ behalf, as Dellums has had a tense relationship with the news media and rarely grants interviews.
Rose said today is his last day as Dellums’ spokesman and he will join Muni on July 1. Dellums hasn’t announced a replacement for Rose.
Muni executive director Nathaniel Ford said in a prepared statement, “Paul has a wealth of experience in the public sector and understands the challenges faced in communicating the wide variety of issues we deal with on a daily basis here in the Bay Area.”
Before working for Dellums, Rose served as the communications manager for the Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, press secretary for former New York City Councilman Gifford Miller, deputy press secretary for the New York City Department of Education and assistant press secretary for former California Governor Gray Davis.
Rose will take over for Kristen Holland, Muni’s interim media relations manager, who will resume her role as assistant media relations manager. Holland took over for Judson True, who left Muni in April.
