Gilbert Appoints Chief Digital Officer Amidst Speech-Monitoring Scandal

By Staff Reporter |

The town of Gilbert has appointed Kandice Kwan as its new Chief Digital Officer, a position critical to the Office of Digital Government (ODG) following controversies over its previous speech-monitoring practices.

Kwan replaces Dana Berchman, who resigned in February amid scrutiny for monitoring employees’ online speech, particularly when it contradicted progressive ideals like support for Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ issues. Public records reveal that Berchman’s tenure involved tracking social media activities of town employees, often leading to communication with department leadership if any speech was deemed contrary to those ideals.

Under Berchman’s leadership, ODG faced backlash for monitoring speech connected to political candidates and progressive topics, including abortion and gun control. A public statement from the town defended these actions, asserting a commitment to curbing divisive and offensive posts by employees representing Gilbert.

Kwan comes to the role with nearly a decade of experience at R&R Partners, an advertising and marketing firm serving a range of high-profile clients such as Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, and Facebook. Previously, she was the digital marketing director for Fox Restaurant Concepts in the Valley.

Publicly available information indicates that Kwan shares political leanings similar to her predecessor. In a 2021 interview, she advocated for increased allyship among white individuals towards marginalized communities, urging education on biases and solidarity in the face of racial injustices.

Her social media presence suggests support for measures to combat anti-Asian sentiments and prolonged business shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kwan criticized Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, attributing the resurgence of COVID-19 cases to premature business reopenings in June 2020.

Kwan will officially assume her role on September 16, with a starting salary of $170,000, which reflects a decrease from Berchman’s salary of $200,800. During Berchman’s tenure, ODG’s staff compensation exceeded $1.15 million annually.

Following her resignation, Berchman founded her marketing firm, Oh, hi! Communications, which has garnered endorsements from notable local figures, including former Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels.