ST. LOUIS — Nancy Hawes, Mayor Cara Spencer’s chief of staff, is leaving the mayor’s office after four months.

Spencer announced the change at a press conference Friday morning, and applauded Hawes for her service responding to the May 16 tornado and reworking the city’s development agency.

“We are really grateful for the work that she’s done here,” Spencer said.

In an interview afterward, Spencer said the timing of Hawes’ departure came at a natural break as the office does some reworking of roles, including the chief of staff's job. Hawes said the same thing in a separate interview.

“I’ve done my piece,” Hawes said.

Casey Millburg, previously the policy director under Spencer and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, will be the new chief of staff.

Spencer said Millburg will focus primarily on

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