Mayor-Elect Smiley Announces Transition Team, Many Former Politicians and Staffers

Mayor-Elect Smiley Announces Transition Team, Many Former Politicians and Staffers

Providence Mayor-elect Brett Smiley announced his transition team — a group with a lot of political experience including many former Democratic politicians and staffers.

The team has multiple former staffers from outgoing Mayor Jorge Elorza’s team.

The committee does not include a CEO or a senior c-suite executive of a major for-profit company or a major non-profit.

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The group tapped by Smiley does include a number of small business owners and a senior member of the law firm Adler, Pollock and Sheehan -- Vicki Almeida.

The four co-chairs of the Smiley for Mayor Transition include two former politicians -- Dr. Omar Bah, most recently a candidate for Congress and the founder of the Refugee Dream Center, and Victor Capellan, a former senior advisor to the Commissioner of Education and ran for a number of offices including mayor and then dropped out. 

The two other co-chairs are Cathy Lund, founder of City Kitty Veterinary Care for Cats, and Tiana Ochoa, Vice President of programs and director of Head Start at Children’s Friend.

“The co-chairs will work to guide the transition process and work with Brett and staff to build a diverse leadership team and review current structures and workflows across the city,” said the Smiley campaign.

“Over the past few weeks, we have received an outpouring of support for our campaign and for the work ahead. We are excited to announce our Transition Co-chairs and our Transition Committee that represent a diverse group of community members, experts and business owners who will help make Providence the best-run city in the country,” said Smiley. “During the next few months, we will work together to build an incredible team and be ready to lead on January 2.” 

This focused transition process will, according to Smiley "concentrate specifically on how the City of Providence can improve educational outcomes, increase community safety and provide high-quality city services for every neighbor and business. The campaign also announced the formation of a transition committee that includes local community members, policy experts and small business owners. The committee will be charged with engaging the community on specific policy topics, communicating about the transition and supporting the inauguration activities."

Both groups will meet during November and December.

 

The members of the transition committee include:

Nick Cicchitelli - real estate professional and former candidate for city council
Cliff Wood - former member of the Providence City Council, now heads the Providence Foundation
Courtney Hawkins - former Raimondo and Elorza appointee
Sybil Bailey - former head of Human Resources for the City of Providence
Deborah Brayton - former aide to Lincoln Chafee and David Cicilline
Tony Simon - former Chief of Staff to Jorge Elorza, now a State House lobbyist and consultant
Michael Solomon - former President of the City Council and twice candidate for mayor

Other members include:

Frank Cabrera 
Channavy Chhay
Napoleon Askie
Ron Coia
Jordan Day 
Carlos Diaz
Jenn Fondeur
PJ Fox
Ramon Guzman 
Beth Bixby
Melissa Hughes 
Leah Metts Williams 
Pilar McCloud
Arnell Millhouse 
Tania Quezada  
Anthony Santurri
Bianca Rodriguez Slater
Jenn Steinfeld 
Allen Williams
Georgina Weeks

Additionally, Brett announced three members of the transition staff. Emily Ward Crowell will serve as the Executive Director, Michael Napolitano will serve as the Deputy Director and Shastery Gonzalez Peña will serve as the Executive Assistant to the transition.