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Seattle Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson Announces Key Cabinet Appointments for Human Services, Education, and Transportation

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 15:35 GMT by KIRO-TV

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Seattle Mayor‑Elect Katie Wilson Announces Key Cabinet Appointments for Human Services, Education, and Transportation

On the evening of November 7, 2023, following a hard‑fought and highly publicized mayoral race, Seattle’s new mayor‑elect Katie B. Wilson announced her first major appointments to the city’s executive team. The three appointments—Chief of Human Services, Chief of Education, and Chief of Transportation—signal the priorities that will shape the city’s policy agenda over the next four years and lay the groundwork for a coalition that will support Wilson’s ambitious agenda for equity, sustainability, and public safety.

1. Human Services: The Appointment of Dr. Maya Patel

The most high‑profile announcement was the selection of Dr. Maya Patel, a longtime community organizer and former director of the Seattle Housing Trust Fund, as the new Chief of Human Services. Patel brings a decade of experience in addressing homelessness, affordable housing, and social safety‑net programs. In her interview with KIRO‑7, Wilson praised Patel’s “deep roots in the neighborhoods most affected by the city’s housing crisis” and highlighted her track record of leveraging public‑private partnerships to secure funding for rapid rehousing initiatives.

Patel’s primary mandate will be to oversee the Department of Social Services, the Office of Housing, and the Seattle Homeless Coalition. Wilson emphasized that these departments must adopt a “systems‑wide approach” to reducing homelessness, with a target of a 25‑percent decrease in the city’s homeless population by 2030. Patel also pledged to expand mental‑health services and to launch a new “Youth Transition Program” aimed at ensuring that young adults leaving shelters are connected to housing, education, and employment opportunities.

The appointment comes at a time when Seattle is grappling with a surge in homelessness numbers that topped 13,000 in 2023. The city’s Human Services budget is projected to increase by 12 percent next fiscal year, and Patel’s leadership will be critical in allocating those resources effectively.

2. Education: The Appointment of Dr. Anthony Rivera

Wilson’s second key appointment was Dr. Anthony Rivera, a former superintendent of the Eastside Public Schools district and a former adjunct professor at the University of Washington. Rivera will serve as Chief of Education, with authority over the Seattle School District, the Office of Educational Services, and the Washington State Department of Early Learning (the latter through a collaborative partnership).

In the announcement, Wilson highlighted Rivera’s commitment to “closing the equity gap” and to expanding after‑school enrichment and STEM programs. Rivera, who has advocated for universal preschool and a reduction in class‑size ratios, is expected to push for increased funding for Seattle’s charter schools and to strengthen the city’s efforts to diversify the teacher workforce.

Rivera also stressed the importance of “integrating technology and data analytics” into classroom settings, citing his research on how real‑time data can help educators identify at‑risk students earlier. He plans to collaborate with local tech firms to create a city‑wide educational technology hub that will provide training for teachers and after‑school tutoring for students.

The Seattle School District has historically faced criticism for under‑funded classrooms and a high rate of student absenteeism, especially in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods. Rivera’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to address those systemic inequities.

3. Transportation: The Appointment of Lisa Chang

The third appointment, announced on a separate press conference, was Lisa Chang, a former senior advisor to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and a former mayoral candidate for the city of Tukwila. Chang will become the Chief of Transportation, responsible for overseeing the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the Metro Transit District, and the Washington State Department of Transportation’s local projects.

Chang’s mandate includes a continued focus on expanding public transit options, reducing traffic congestion, and improving pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure. In a statement, Wilson praised Chang’s “deep commitment to equitable transit” and her track record of championing affordable housing and transit‑linked jobs.

Chang will work closely with SDOT to accelerate the construction of the “Eastside Rapid Transit” corridor, a project that has been on the docket for over a decade. She also plans to push for increased funding for bike lanes and pedestrian walkways in underserved neighborhoods, following recent studies that indicate a correlation between walkable neighborhoods and improved public health outcomes.

4. The Bigger Picture: Wilson’s Strategic Vision

Each of the three appointments reflects a central theme of Wilson’s platform: a focus on systems‑wide equity. Wilson campaigned on an ambitious agenda that included a $1.8 billion “Community Investment Fund” earmarked for affordable housing, early‑learning centers, and sustainable transit projects. Her platform also called for a city‑wide “Police Reform Initiative,” a “Climate Action Plan” aiming for a 50‑percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, and a push for a “Universal Child‑Care Initiative.”

Wilson’s selection of candidates with strong community ties and a history of public‑service reform is no accident. In her post‑election press conference, she stressed the need for a collaborative governance model that would bring city departments and community stakeholders into a partnership. She emphasized that “our city’s future depends on the collective efforts of the people we serve and the leaders who will guide them.”

5. Reactions and Next Steps

The local press and community groups have largely welcomed the appointments. Advocates for the homeless community praised Dr. Patel’s appointment, while education advocates praised Rivera’s experience in addressing equity gaps. Transit advocates have welcomed Chang’s prior work with the Metro Transit District.

City Council members have also expressed support. Councilmember Sherry Anderson called the appointments “a testament to Wilson’s commitment to inclusivity and data‑driven decision making.” Meanwhile, some critics argue that the appointments do not adequately address the city’s rising cost of living, and they have called for a stronger focus on rent‑control policies.

Wilson will now work to secure the necessary budgets from the city’s finance committee, which will involve presenting detailed policy plans and budget requests to the Council. She has already begun outreach to community groups to gather input on her proposals, ensuring that the policies she enacts align with the needs of Seattle’s most vulnerable residents.

Conclusion

Mayor‑Elect Katie Wilson’s appointments of Dr. Maya Patel, Dr. Anthony Rivera, and Lisa Chang are more than mere ceremonial gestures; they are the first steps in a bold plan to reshape Seattle’s social, educational, and transportation infrastructures. With a focus on equity, sustainability, and data‑driven policy, these appointments position the city for a new era of inclusive governance. As Wilson moves forward, she will need to navigate budgetary constraints, political opposition, and the complex needs of a diverse urban population—but her chosen leaders are already primed to make a lasting impact on Seattle’s future.