Mayor Rhodes-Conway Announces New Chief of Staff

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced today that Mary Bottari will be stepping down, and that Sam Munger will serve as Chief of Staff starting at the beginning of 2024.

Bottari has served as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff since 2019, when she managed Rhodes-Conway’s transition into the office. During her tenure in Madison, Bottari was instrumental in launching the CARES program, Madison’s alternative crisis response. She took the lead on issues of public safety and emergency management, and was the Mayor’s liaison with the LGBTQ+ and Labor communities. Mary helped lead the City through the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked closely with Public Health Madison Dane County. She also maintained collaborative working relationships with other levels of government and key Madison institutions.

“Mary has been an invaluable part of my administration. Her dedication and hard work have greatly contributed to Madison’s success, and to our efforts to improve public safety, housing and transportation in our community,” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. “I deeply appreciate her service, and wish her the best in her next chapter.”

Sam Munger has been serving in the administration as Interim Deputy Mayor since May. He is an experienced policy strategist with over two decades of experience working on public policy at the federal, state and local level. He was a Policy Advisor to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers from 2018-2020, advising him on a range of topics including voting and elections administration, climate, and workforce and economic development. Prior to that, he worked at the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) at the University of Wisconsin, where he researched, wrote about, and advised public officials on a progressive state policy. He holds a JD from NYU School of Law and clerked for two years in the Southern District of New York. A native of Buffalo, NY, he has called Madison home since 2008 and has two children in Madison public schools.

“I am thrilled to be able to add someone with Sam’s range of experience to an already stellar team,” said Mayor Rhodes Conway. “Sam's broad policy knowledge, commitment to cities and level-headedness will be a great fit for this position."

Munger will begin serving as Chief of Staff starting on January 1, 2024.