By Ed Somers
March 5, 2012

President Obama announced on February 24 that current Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew has been promoted to serve as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. Agnew will oversee the Obama Administration’s relationship with state, county, local, and tribal officials across the country.

In commenting on this appointment, Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran said, “David Agnew has been a strong advocate for America’s mayors and the cities they lead since January of 2009. Having served as a top deputy to our Past President Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., David knows how important cities and their metro economies are to the future of our nation. All levels of government will be well served with David Agnew in this new position.”

Riley released a statement saying, “President Obama has made an extraordinarily wise choice. I know that the Obama Administration and the citizens of our country will benefit greatly from having David Agnew in this very important position. And we in Charleston are so proud of him.”

Prior to joining the White House and working for Riley, Agnew served as a Special Assistant in the Office of U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and a management consultant at Price Waterhouse. Agnew has been active in public affairs and urban policy throughout his career, and has served in leadership roles for numerous non-profit organizations, including the South Carolina Trust for Public Land, the Charleston Parks Conservancy, and the College of Charleston Riley Center. Agnew received his Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a Harry S. Truman Scholar, a European Union Visiting Fellow, and a Liberty Fellow.

Agnew replaces Cecilia Muñoz, who has been appointed Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.