Gov’s Chief-of-Staff Smiley Soliciting Support for Mayoral Run from Prov City Council Members
GoLocalProv Political Team
Gov’s Chief-of-Staff Smiley Soliciting Support for Mayoral Run from Prov City Council Members
Smiley had run for Providence Mayor in 2014, but pulled out just before the primary and endorsed now-Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and was later named Elorza’s Chief of Staff -- although Smiley denied that the endorsement and corresponding job were linked.
Smiley has met with at least three members of the City Council to seek their support, according to multiple sources that have first-hand knowledge.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"I did meet with [Brett Smiley]," said Councilman Michael Correia. "We had a good conversation -- and we're going to continue our talks."
"It's still over three and a half years away. Anything can happen between now and then, but I'd like to continue our conversations. I supported him the last time -- I let him know I would like to continue our conversation and see him coming out to community events. As we get closer I can make a more definitive decision," said Correia.
"It was a good conversation that we had -- I told him I look forward to continuing our discussions with him," said Correia. "There's a strong possibility that I will support him once we see his vision and a plan that he has."
Correia spoke to GoLocal about Smiley's experience in working in Providence and then in the Governor's office.
"I get the impression he wanted to get a good feel of the inner workings of the city and [then] how it works with the state, so he's building a solid vision to move the city forward," said Correia. "So goes Providence goes the state."
Smiley did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Raimondo’s Chief of Staff continues to own a web of political consulting businesses.
A 2017 investigation into Smiley’s companies found that the firms he owns received payments from many prominent Democrats, including payment from one of the House Democratic Leadership PACs and a $2,030 payment from then-federal inmate and former Rhode Island Speaker of the House Gordon Fox.
While Smiley earns $176,419 as Raimondo's Chief of Staff, his companies earn hundreds of resounds of dollars.
Between 2013 and 2017, Rhode Island state and local candidates paid a web of Smiley-owned companies just under $300,000. Federal candidates both in Rhode Island and around the country have paid Smiley’s firms hundreds of thousands in additional payments.
“Smiley's continued ownership of the firm raises the questions that have yet to be answered. In the past we've told GoLocal that Common Cause believes Smiley should seek an advisory opinion from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission with respect to his continued ownership of the consulting firm,” said John Marion, head of Rhode Island Common Cause.
Smiley, Galvin, and Raimondo
If Smiley’s web of political consulting firms was not intertwined enough with Democratic elected officials and candidates, GoLocal has learned that the Vice President of Smiley’s CFO Compliance company, Ed Galvin, also has a related consulting business that is being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by dozens of Democratic political campaigns — including the Raimondo campaign.
