Mayor-elect Ginther Selects Derek Anderson to Lead Community Relations Commission
Columbus Mayor-elect Andrew J.
Ginther has selected Derek H. Anderson to serve as the executive director of
the Community Relations Commission. Anderson is currently the assistant administrator
of the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities Division of Sewerage and
Drainage and will transition into the new role after Ginther assumes office
Jan. 1.
Anderson currently oversees the
Sewer Maintenance and Operations Center and other Human Resources-related
activities including recruitment and selection of a diversified workforce. He
has a long history of work on the federal, state and local levels having spent
time working in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and in the office of
the Ohio Treasurer.
“Columbus is America’s Opportunity City because we embrace diversity
and celebrate the various beliefs and cultures of our residents and visitors,”
said Ginther. “Derek will work to ensure we are the most inclusive city
possible, helping us to build even stronger neighborhoods so we can continue to
grow and learn from one another.”
The Community Relations
Commission was established in 1990 to help bring civic, business and
neighborhood leaders together with elected officials to discuss issues of
ethnic, racial and cultural diversity.
Anderson received the doctorate
of humane letters from Jackson Theological Seminary and Shorter College and has
served on the Board of Trustees of Wilberforce University, Paul Quinn College,
and Methodist Theological Seminary.
He is married and resides in
Columbus, Ohio with his wife the Rev. Aimee H. Anderson, son Cory and daughter
Kennedy.