Two seasoned political operatives have been enlisted to help the Honolulu City Council with its policy making and messaging.

Louise Kim McCoy has been hired as the Council’s director of communications while Donald Koelper will serve as policy analyst.

McCoy, a former television news reporter, previously served as communications director for former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, former Lt. Gov. Doug Chin and former Mayor Peter Carlisle.

Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson said he has had “lengthy discussions” with Council Vice Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi about the need for a communications director to assist all nine members.

Koelper’s job will be to “assist with policy issues and initiatives on behalf of the City Council,” Anderson told his colleagues in a memo Tuesday announcing the hirings. Koelper has served as a senior legislative staff person on both the federal and state level, working on policy and communications, and was a consultant for nonprofit agencies.

Anderson has gradually been building his Council support staff since becoming chairman in May. Longtime aide Francisco “Chico” Figueiredo was named executive assistant to the chairman shortly after Anderson took the gavel.