On the first day of the New Year, Scotts Valley City Councilmember Jim Reed marked the beginning of his new day job — as Chief of Staff to San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Reed moves into his new position from the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, where he served as the organization’s Vice President of Public Policy.
“As one might expect with his knowledge, background, and skill set, other opportunities were bound to present themselves,” Chamber President and CEO Matt Mahood, said in a release that announced Reed’s departure.
In his new position, Reed manages the newly appointed mayor’s staff and will also serve as his political advisor.
“I am running the mayor’s office — that’s probably 20 to 25 staff — and generally assisting him in his efforts to become a great mayor for the City of San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley region as a whole,” Reed said.
Reed’s desk sits about 10 feet from Liccardo’s in the office located on the 18th floor of the San Jose City Hall Building.
“I will see (Liccardo) more in a given work day than I’ll see my wife,” he said, joking that his wife is probably happy that things played out that way.
Liccardo explained that Reed’s experience managing teams of people, as well as his diplomatic approach made him a perfect candidate for his Chief of Staff.
“I am really fortunate to have someone with Jim’s experience, both in the private sector and as a city mayor, running our team here in San Jose,” Liccardo said. “I made a commitment to hire the best, the brightest, and the most confident and I got that with Jim.”
Although Reed will be busy commuting and attending to his new job, he said he can’t see his new position interfering with his devotion to the Scotts Valley City Council and local events.
“Sam and I talked and he understands that the schedule is going to have time built into it for not only Scotts Valley City Council meetings and other meetings relating to that work,” Reed said, “but that there are going to be times when I am going to have to attend to some Scotts Valley business and we are confident that we can make that work.”
Reed commented that he and his children are also excited to view the activity of the Peregrine falcons, which have nested right outside the Mayor’s office on the 18th floor.
“One thing I am sure about this job, it will never be boring,” he said. “I am really looking forward to it and I am absolutely loving it.”
