Brett Smiley resigns as Raimondo's Director of AdministrationBrett Smiley, a candidate for Mayor of Providence in 2022, announced his resignation as the Rhode Island Director of Administration.
Smiley has come under criticism for his dual role in state government while gearing up for another run at City Hall -- and faces questions about his fundraising from state contractors for his campaign when he had direct oversight of contracts in his state role.
In an email to his Department, Smiley wrote, "Serving Governor Raimondo as her Chief of Staff and as the Director of Administration has been a privilege. I am excited for Lt. Governor McKee to make his own mark on Rhode Island and assemble his team that will lead our state. I will continue to work closely with him and his team over the next couple of weeks to ensure a smooth transition."
Smiley continued to be a candidate for Mayor of Providence for the 2022 Democratic nomination.
In a report published Saturday by GoLocal, another candidate -- and Common Cause RI -- raised concerns about Smiley's ethical issues.
"I think it's important that the Ethics Commission take this seriously, even the appearance of impropriety," said Gonzalo Cuervo, another leading Democratic candidate for mayor.
“The Director of the Department of Administration is one of the most demanding jobs in state government, particularly during an unprecedented pandemic when hundreds of millions of additional dollars are flowing through that agency,” said John Marion, President of Common Cause Rhode Island. “Running a campaign for mayor can only be a distraction from that important role. Trying to do both also presents a number of ethical challenges as we have seen this week.”
