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Mayor R. T. Rybak said today he is appointing Jennifer O'Rourke as his chief of staff. O'Rourke has worked for the last 11 years at the League of Minnesota Cities, an organization that offers advocacy, training and policy development for more than 800 cities. She has advocated for the league to the Legislature, state agencies and congressional offices, the mayor's office said. O'Rourke also served as committee administrator of the Economic Development Budget Committee in the Minnesota Senate. O'Rourke replaces Jeremy Hanson Willis, who left the chief of staff position last month to head the city's Community Planning and Economic Development department. She will start on June 4 and does not require confirmation from the City Council. "She's smart and well versed in the many issues that affect us at the State Capitol, especially property-tax reform, but her knowledge and experience translates very well outside the Capitol," Rybak said in a statement.