By Lookout Staff

January 12, 2026 -- Former City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren will assume her old post on an interim basis while the City embarks on a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.

Anderson-Warren -- who retired in December 2023 after holding the post for nearly eight years -- will replace Nikima Newsome, who unexpectedly resigned in December effective this month.

Anderson-Warren, who worked for the City Clerk's office for 29 years under more than a dozen Councils, was highly regarded in her role as the City's top election official.

During her tenure, she implemented electronic filing systems for Campaign Disclosure Statements and Conflict of Interest Statements and helped facilitate electronic voting system upgrades for the City Council.

She also helped boost voter registration by promoting registration drives and was in charge of rolling out the lobbyist registration ordinance.

In addition to overseeing elections, the City Clerk provides support for some three dozen City Council meetings a year and is in charge of handling public records requests.

Anderson-Warren will hold the post while an ad-hoc committee established by the City Council launches a nationwide recruitment effort in the coming weeks.

Pending final approval of her contract by the Council, Anderson-Warren will join the City effective Wednesday, with a salary of $119.13 per hour.

“We are very pleased that Denise has agreed to step in and serve as our Clerk in an interim capacity,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “We are grateful for her willingness to return and support the City in this critical role.”

While the City Manager hires Department heads, the seven-member City Council hires the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk and needs five votes to fire them.