Gilbert Montaño, former Mayor Richard Berry’s chief of staff, has taken a position as chief administrative officer for the city of New Orleans.
He will serve under the city’s first female mayor, LaToya Cantrell, a Democrat, and he will be the first Hispanic to hold the position, he said Wednesday.
“I felt that the opportunity was so great,” he said. “I’m humbled by the challenge.”
The city proper is smaller than Albuquerque, with about 400,000 people, but along with its surrounding metropolitan area is about 1.3 million people.
Montaño, 36, is an Albuquerque native.
Berry said Wednesday that New Orleans is in good hands.
“I’m excited for Gilbert and Mayor-elect Cantrell,” Berry said. “He proved himself here. … Albuquerque was one of the best-run cities in America for several years in a row, and he was really integral to our administration. Now New Orleans is going to have the benefit of his experience.”
