YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor-elect Derrick McDowell stayed inside city hall with his picks for chief of staff, law director and finance director, but appointed new people to the first two positions.

McDowell on Tuesday named Adam Buente, deputy law director, as the next law director and Jonathan Huff, civil service administrator, as his chief of staff. He also reappointed Kyle Miasek as finance director.

These are the first three appointments made by McDowell, who was elected Nov. 4 and takes office as mayor Jan. 1.

“This is truly an exciting time, full of newfound hope for our city, and I am very pleased with the team we are building to lead Youngstown,” McDowell said. “These top-level professionals all have exceptional qualifications and competencies. But even more importantly, they all share in the vision needed to take care of the people who take care of the people.”

Huff has extensive experience working for the city. He initially was hired in 2007 as human relations commission executive director by then-Mayor Jay Williams and then selected in 2012 by then-Mayor Charles Sammarone as civil service administrator.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the city of Youngstown in this new role,” Huff said.

Huff will replace Nikki Fields, who serves as outgoing Mayor Jamael Tito Brown’s chief of staff and director of the community planning and economic development department.

Fields, hired in September 2019 for both jobs, declined to be interviewed by McDowell.

Buente started in February 2020 as deputy finance director and focuses on civil legal matters. Before that, he worked for the Manchester, Newman and Bennett law firm in Youngstown and still has a small, part-time legal practice.

“I am incredibly thankful to the mayor-elect for the opportunity,” Buente said. “My only goal is to do the best job I possibly can in representing the city in my role as law director.”

Buente replaces Lori Shells Simmons, who Brown appointed law director in January 2024.

Both Buente and Shells Simmons interviewed for the law director job with McDowell.

Miasek, the only person interviewed by McDowell for finance director, said: “After four annual clean audits and a significant upgrade in the city’s bond rating, I look forward to assisting the mayor-elect and his administration with the goal of replicating that over the next four-year term.”

Miasek was hired in early 2006 as deputy finance director by Williams and held that position during two other mayoral administrations. When Brown took over in January 2018, he named Miasek as interim finance director without a deputy. It wasn’t until March 2021 that Miasek was officially named finance director.

Miasek is civil service protected as deputy finance director and Huff as civil service administrator while all city attorneys, including Buente, are at-will employees.

McDowell said he is continuing to interview for other key posts in his administration with the selections of police and fire chiefs expected by Dec. 12.

Police Chief Carl Davis and fire Chief Barry Finley both want to retain their positions.

McDowell said others have also expressed interest in the jobs.

Davis and Finley retired and were rehired by Brown so if McDowell decides to replace either or both, they would no longer work for the city.

Davis was promoted in January 2021 to police chief. Davis, who’s been with the police department since 1986, retired May 5 and Brown rehired him two days later.

Brown selected Finley as fire chief in February 2018. Finley, who’s been with the city fire department since 1993, retired March 15 and was rehired three days later.