The Seattle City Council has officially welcomed a new communications director to their team, as Brad Harwood begins his tenure today, stepping into the role to enhance public relations and the flow of vital information to the community. With over a decade of experience in the communications and public affairs sector, Harwood is set to bring a refreshed spirit of clarity and engagement to the City of Seattle.
Harwood is no stranger to the demands of municipal communication. Having recently served as chief communications officer for the City of Bellevue, he proved himself more than capable of steering a dedicated team through the intricacies of contemporary public information dissemination. He was also credited with managing to streamline the media relations process and handling public outreach with a deft touch, according to the Seattle City Council announcement.
"Brad Harwood is a seasoned communications professional with a solid record of creating successful public information programs," noted City Council President Sara Nelson, per the Seattle City Council. She expressed confidence in his leadership and the council's fortune to now have his counsel, especially as they navigate a collection of immediate challenges and opportunities to better serve the Seattle populace.
Harwood's history also spans roles such as a communications consultant and legislative aide for the Metropolitan King County Council, furthering his reputation as a skilled communicator within governmental frameworks. Besides his impressive professional credentials, Harwood, a 'twin dad,' has cultivated a personal investment in the region, having called Seattle home for over two decades and having pursued his higher education locally at the University of Washington before earning a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. His commitment to the city is clear, having chosen to also serve as a consultant for the City of Tukwila where he continued to sharpen his expertise.
As Harwood assumes his new duties, Jesse Franz, who has capably filled the interim role since April, will step aside. With Harwood's reputation for employing his deep bench of skills to effectively communicate and handle emergent issues, the Seattle City Council appears poised to benefit from an enriching dialogue with its constituents under his direction.
