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New Mayor Walsh Makes More Appointments

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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has announced more appointments to his Cabinet.

Walsh announced his picks before a bank of TV cameras and other media in a crowded Eagle Room in City Hall on Tuesday, just a day after his inauguration.

"I think there's more people here today than yesterday," Walsh joked.

The new mayor named some of his top campaign advisers to key posts.

Joyce Linehan, a one-time punk rock promoter who has become a sought-after political operative, will serve as Walsh's chief of policy.

Joe Rull, a one-time aide to former Mayor Thomas Menino, will be chief of operations.

State Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty, a Chelsea Democrat and close friend of the mayor, will be the city's top attorney.

Walsh also made three interim appointments: Trinh Nguyen as director of the Office of Jobs & Community Services; Keith Williams as director of the office of Small & Local Business Enterprise; and Alejandra St. Guillen as director of the Office of New Bostonians.

The mayor said his much-anticipated appointment of a new police chief could come as soon as this week. And he suggested he might stay local with another high-profile pick: superintendent of schools.

"I want the most qualified, best-qualified candidate," Walsh said, adding, "I certainly think if we could get someone from Boston or from Massachusetts it would be helpful because they understand, kind of, the lay of the land."

The city is not expected to hire a new schools superintendent for several months.

Linehan, who said during the campaign that she had no interest in serving in city government, explained that she was drawn by "the opportunity, at a time when municipalities are driving policy nationwide, to work for a great mayor on operationalizing his policies."

"It's a great job," she added. "It's my dream job."

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