Spencer Administration Announces New Key Staff, Departure of CDA Director

Today, Mayor Cara Spencer announced the appointments of three key members of the administration, along with the upcoming departure of Community Development Administration Executive Director Nahuel Fefer.

Mayor Spencer has appointed James Jackson to serve as Street Department director, putting him in charge of the City’s efforts to collect refuse, keep streets smooth and clear of snow and manage the tow lot.

Jackson brings more than three decades of public works experience in cities including Atlanta, Topeka, Detroit and Washington, D.C. His expertise will be invaluable as he deploys the City’s new snow removal and winter weather plan.

"I promised Mayor Spencer that I will work tirelessly to bring the Street Department up to the highest performance standards,” said Jackson. “I'm looking forward to getting on the ground to meet the team and deliver the best possible services for the citizens of St. Louis.”

Jackson follows Interim Street Department Director Kent Flake, who will resume his prior position as the commissioner of the Street Department. Flake led the department with distinction, especially in the wake of the May 16 tornado. He marshaled his street crews to lead cleanup efforts totaling 32,434 hours worked during the two months following the tornado. Flake also initiated smart fixes to the recycling program, saving taxpayers approximately $100,000 each month.

“We owe Kent a real debt of gratitude. I want to personally thank him for stepping in during a transition at the department and leading us through an intense period of storm clean-up, the scale of which we had not seen before,” said Mayor Spencer.

Mayor Spencer appointed Marvin Teer as director of the Office of Violence Prevention. Teer brings over three decades of distinguished public service in law, community engagement and violence reduction to the position, which he started on Nov. 3.

Most recently serving as chief trial attorney for the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, Teer has led the management, training, and advising of multiple prosecutorial divisions, including the Violent Crime Unit. His career includes service as a municipal court judge, administrative law judge, assistant attorney general, and director and general counsel for the Office of Community Engagement under former Governor Jay Nixon, where he helped build initiatives following the killing of Michael Brown to strengthen trust between communities and government.

“I’m honored to serve the people of St. Louis in this critical role. Violence prevention requires partnership, compassion, and persistence — and I look forward to working with our community partners, city leaders, and residents to ensure every neighborhood can thrive in safety and peace.”

The mayor has also made another important addition to her own staff, appointing Col. Bryan Barroqueiro as deputy chief operating officer.

Before joining city government on Nov. 3, Barroqueiro built a distinguished 25-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he led diverse teams and operations across the Middle East and Africa. In his final role, he served as deputy chief of staff at Air Mobility Command, supporting a global organization of over 1,300 personnel, a fleet of 1,100 aircraft, and managing an $11 billion operational budget, in close collaboration with Col. Ben Jonsson, whom he will now report directly to again in the Mayor’s Office.

“St. Louis has been my adopted home for more than 15 years. No matter where my uniformed service took me around the world, I always knew I’d return to the city. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to continue serving the public at the local level and to help build a strong future for the City of St. Louis,” said Barroqueiro.

“These new team members bring a level of expertise and a love of St. Louis City that will be vital as we tackle long-standing issues and stretch toward new levels of service,” said Mayor Spencer. “All three of these exceptional hires share my belief that basic city services should be delivered at the highest levels. I’m excited to have their energy and talents. And we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Nahuel Fefer has shared that he will depart the CDA on Nov. 28 and begin a happy new chapter with his fiancée in Boston. Fefer has led the CDA since August 2022 and has been instrumental in delivering millions of dollars to community development projects throughout the city, both before and after this year’s tornado.

"It has been the honor of my professional life to serve the people of St. Louis and lead such an extraordinary team at CDA. While love and family are calling me to Boston, I remain deeply invested in St. Louis' success and hope to contribute to the city's recovery and transformation in new ways moving forward," said Fefer.

Media contact: 

Kathryn Jamboretz
Interim Communications Support
City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office
Jamboretzk@stlouis-mo.gov, 314-484-9333