PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Chafee has moved his deputy chief of staff Jamia McDonald into a new role as the $133,112-a-year executive director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and given what appears to be a $60,000 raise to aide Jonathan Stevens.
A statement issued by the governor's office Friday said, "Since April, McDonald has been conducting a thorough evaluation of the agency's operations. Given her observations and the high frequency of severe weather events in recent years, the Governor made the decision to ask her to serve at RIEMA on a permanent basis.''
She replaces Theresa C. Murray, who left in February, citing personal issues. According to the governor's "transparency portal,'' Murray was paid $40,697 in the job in fiscal year 2012, which ended on June 30, 2012. (Spokeswoman Christine Hunsinger said Murray did not work the full year.)
McDonald was paid $158,362 in her former role. There was no immediate explanation for the apparent pay cut.
Jonathan Stevens, an assistant to the governor for special projects, is getting a new title: senior adviser to the governor and director of special projects. His new salary: $160,628, according to the governor's office. His previous salary: $100,553.38.
Hunsinger referred salary questions to the Department of Administration.
In other moves, former Providence Journal society reporter Faye Zuckerman, who last worked at Rhode island Housing as its communications director, is replacing Christian Vareika as deputy communications director and chief speechwriter. Her salary: $75,153.
Vareika is leaving at the end of the summer to attend law school.
With Communications Associate James Alvarez also leaving to "pursue a career in the U.S. Army,'' Chafee has added three staffers in the communications office: "journalist and author'' Alexander Heffner will serve as a $65,156-a-year new-media associate, Kyrie Perry, a recent Roger Williams University graduate, and Nancy Lavin, a recent University of Rhode Island graduate, have been hired as $31,758-a-year aides.