[Mayor Harrell] Believe it or not, when you talk about the director
of the Office of City Finance, I was going to say this one is a fun one.
Now, why would you say that about city finance
and bond analysis and that kind of stuff?
And Jamie is trying to say where are you going with this?
Bruce?
First of all, let me describe, for those who don't understand the office,
and what they do.
First, it's an indispensable department that runs
many of our city's behind the scenes functions.
So that would include financial operations, citywide accounting
and payroll, risk management, overall business systems and more.
well, that doesn't sound fun right?
Now bear with me.
But I know she will serve this city well through her
big picture thinking and commitment to fiscally sound practices.
What's fun is you.
If you look at her excellence in the workplace,
she she's dedicated three decades of serving the city of Seattle.
She started at one level and progressively moved up.
To me, that's what's fun.
And I'm going to sort of tell you where I'm going with this.
Bear with me.
I haven't lost my mind yet.
First joining the city family in 1994.
And ever since that time, she's become known
as a problem solver, an action oriented public servant servant.
She previously previously serves as director the city business Systems Division,
as well as the deputy director for city finance director, director...
many of you know Glen Lee,
but her experience within the department has led her to become an expert
on local government finances, I.T communications and project management.
In other words, she worked her way up.
Now I'm going to ask all of you,
I'm going to say a quote, and I want to see what kind of credibility you have.
Here goes the quote.
“I started on clean up just like you guys,
but see now I'm a I'm washing lettuce.
Soon I'll be on fries.
Then the grill a year or two
I make assistant manager and that's when the big bucks start rolling in.”
What movie is that from?
Thank you so.
That was Louie Anderson and Coming to America.
So I think about that funny scene when he was watching like this.
And I think about what you've done
that probably when you started, over three decades ago,
you probably didn't know you're going to be director of the entire department.
But that's what hard work, expertise, being a people person
and let me describe to you her attributes that people say about her
talented and a thoughtful collaborator, a big picture thinker,
knowing for going above and beyond the call of duty.
And lastly, a great sense of humor, these kinds of qualities
in one of our most important departments.
Again, looking at our money, is it takes this kind of leader
and when you're sort of homegrown sort of speak, it becomes even sweeter.
So that's why I said this is sort of a fun one for your colleagues
to see one of their own sort of migrate up the ranks and do so well.
I've had the opportunity to work with director kind of for over 15 years,
and have come to deeply trust her business acumen and her leadership skills.
She and her team's guidance and many management skills are largely
the reason why Seattle maintains stellar credit ratings for our bond sales.
That becomes critical when you look at the bond
ratings of different municipalities.
The saves us money in on major infrastructure projects and quite candidly
and most importantly, she cares about the people of Seattle.
And that's how she runs this department.
So Jamie, thank you for letting me have a little fun
with your story, because that's a story we all could learn from.
When I look at young folks
coming into the city and I said, you know,
you could sit behind my desk or department head and
you just have to
shine
and you have to do what others sometimes don't want to do, and you have to lead.
So, Jamie, thank you so much for stepping up.
taking this position during some real tough times.
And your leadership sort of speaks for itself.
So we're going to do the oath of office, administered by the city clerk again,
Scheereen Dedman and the ceremonial pin will be affixed by her
lovely husband, Chris.
Come on, forward.
ready?
All right.
- Repeat after me, please.
- I, Jamie Carnell - I, Jamie Carnell
- swear or affirm.
- Affirm
- That I possess all of the qualifications
- That I possess, all of the qualifications
- Prescribed in the Seattle City Charter,
- Prescribed in the Seattle City Charter
- and the Seattle Municipal Code
- for the position of Finance Director
- and the Director of the Office of City Finance.
- That I will support the Constitution of the United States.
- The Constitution of the State of Washington.
- The Constitution of the State of Washington,
- and the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Seattle
- And that will faithfully conduct myself, - And that I will faithfully conduct myself
- as finance director and the director of the Office of City Finance,
- as Finance Director and the Director of the Office of City Finance.
- Congratulations. - Thank You.
(audience applause)
Okay,
okay.
There we go.
You sign these two.
- I’m so used to signing documents.
All right.
Thank you.
All right, well,
Amy, thank you for your speech.
Very much. Inspired.
thank you, mayor Harrell
and the executive team and the legislative and the council members here today,
and my fellow department heads that are also here today.
I appreciate my name
being put forward for confirmation and supporting me during this process.
as mayor, Harrell said, I started here in the city
during the early 90’s recession.
So that was an interesting time to start the City of Seattle.
I thought it would be temporary.
I thought it would help pay for my student loans.
But what I came to realize, and I've started realizing over the years,
and it was something, as I was preparing for today, meditating and praying, is
that, service, especially public service, has been my calling,
from my grandfather, who served as a state public servant
to my parents who serve the people of Papua New Guinea,
to my
Carnell family and their long history of public service.
It's always been a part of me, and I'm particularly grateful
for everyone who came before me, who mentored me and who support me today.
My husband, Chris, he's my strongest supporter and I often lean
on, consult, rant to and I'm grateful
he is here today, with me and our family.
There was a moment in time we thought we had lost him,
and I'm grateful for the public servants who came to our aid.
And he here is here today
as a testament to that great work of our public safety teams.
So when I say I serve the city, I truly serve the city.
I've served it for 30 years.
A lot of the people that I know, you know, are still here with us
but I really,
truly am grateful for the city of Seattle, not only for the opportunities
it's given me, but for the things it has done to assist my family.
And I want to thank Darren, Julian, Ella and Amelia, who can't be here today
for being with us when we needed it most,
and for continuing to be there for us.
I could not do what a what I do without the support of our family
and friends, here with us today and those who are not able to attend,
I want to thank the OCF office, the city finance team.
They partner with me every day to ensure the Office of City
Finance is a leader in the public sector financial management,
and I am honored to represent them here today.
I am not standing here on my own.
I am standing on the shoulders of all of the staff who do amazing work
and have some really important initiatives going on, and keep our
credit rating where it is and
bring me back to earth.
Sometimes when I'm like, well, what if we just tried this?
so, you know, I'm immensely grateful for them.
And I appreciate all of you here in attendance today.
it truly is a baseline for how the city of Seattle, responds.
we are in the back side, so you don't often see us, and that's a good thing.
but we are here serving, not only the staff of the city, but
also the citizens and all the great groups represented here today.
I'm also grateful for my fellow leaders,
some who are in this room and their partnership.
And I look forward
to continuing our One Seattle approach as we move Seattle forward.
Finally, for all employees considering employment
at the city or leadership of the city, the city of Seattle is a great place
to work.
I am here because of the many people in this organization who gave me a chance.
Or let me explore an opportunity to transform a process, a system,
or an organization.
And I am excited to be here to continue mentoring others
who want to find their own leadership path here at the City.
Mayor Harrell, executive team, council members, council president.
I look forward to our continued collaboration and partnership.
Thank you.
So that will conclude Amy and Jamie Day.
I want you to enjoy the, the champagne
and the wine and the cheese that are in the restaurants in the area.
everyone, have a great day, and let's get to work together.
Thank you very much for being here.
(applause)