Erika Moore, the former communications manager for Arlington’s Dept. of Community Planning, Housing and Development, is the new Assistant County Manager for Communications and Public Engagement, the county announced in a press release earlier this month.
She steps into the shoes of Bryna Helfer, who left the county in March for a position at the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about connecting people to their local government, providing the information they need, and helping them engage with decision makers,” said Moore, who served as acting communications director after Helfer’s departure. “That passion reaches its pinnacle in the opportunity to lead the talented and dedicated communicators and engagers here in Arlington County.”
With the Arlington County Board also appointing a new clerk, Mason Kushnir, at a meeting last week, Moore arrives during a time of some transition for county staff — with shakeups sometimes resulting in delays or gaps in routine services.
Shortly after a given month’s County Board meetings, for instance, the county typically sends out a wrap-up media release summarizing key decisions. In April and May, however, these releases never went out.
Recent months have also seen delays in the posting of some documents related to County Board meetings. In June, a county report on proposed expansions at VHC Health went out the Wednesday before a Saturday meeting — a delay that Vice-Chair Takis Karantonis called “a material issue” when voting to defer a decision on the matter.
“Office capacity has been stretched thin for the past few months,” David Barrera, communications and policy manager to the County Board, told ARLnow last week. “We are aware of the impacts and have adjusted. This week, we appointed a new clerk, and since April, we have hired a few new staff members. We look forward not only to returning to previous standards in our office but to enhancing how we communicate with the public.”
Moore sees her main role as providing centralized communication support and resources in Arlington as she helps set outreach priorities and bolsters engagement efforts county-wide.
“I’m excited,” she told ARLnow. “Obviously it is a very big job, and I have very big shoes to fill with what Bryna established here in the county, but I’m really excited about the opportunity to continue that work.”
Moore joined the county in 2018 and has led engagement efforts related to elections, the pandemic, the county budget, and the county’s capital improvement plans. She is a native of the D.C. area has a background in newspaper journalism.
“I am excited that Erika will permanently take on the County’s Communications and Public Engagement leadership role,” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. “She has the skill, perspective, and commitment to continue our important work of linking all community members to the information they need to know about how the County works.”
“In making this appointment, I am confident Erika will listen well to the many voices in our community and ensure they have a way to participate in the strengthening of our wonderful Arlington community,” Schwartz added.
Moving forward, Moore plans to emphasize “intentionality and consistency” both within the county’s communications teams and with members of the public.
“We have a great, solid, talented group of professional communicators and engagers in Arlington,” she said. “I think we’re really blessed to have such a strong group, and so many of us, so I’m really excited.”
Dan Egitto covers a wide range of topics at ARLnow, with a particular focus on county government and development news. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.
