Mayor-elect Elorza Selects Tony Simon as Chief of Staff; Brett Smiley as Chief Operating Officer; Grace Diaz as Senior Advisor on Community Relations

PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor-elect Jorge Elorza today announced a respected and experienced group of Providence residents as part of the leadership team for his incoming administration.

“I am very happy to announce this respected leadership team that represents the diverse talent our city has to offer,” Mayor-elect Elorza said. “Tony Simon’s breadth of knowledge and experience in government, his work ethic, and his commitment to public service are widely admired in Rhode Island and beyond. Brett Smiley and Grace Diaz represent the type of talent, expertise, and fresh ideas my administration will engage. As a team, we will focus relentlessly on delivering for the City of Providence by creating jobs and growing our economy, fixing our schools, improving public safety, and delivering excellent city services.”

Simon currently serves as U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s Deputy State Director where he is a senior advisor, crafting and implementing long-term strategic plans. His portfolio also includes assisting with the oversight and management of day-to-day operations in the Senator’s Rhode Island office, and cultivating relationships with municipal and state officials across the state to identify federal projects and resources available to them. Simon is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and LaSalle Academy. He and his family reside in the Elmhurst/Mt. Pleasant neighborhood.

“Mayor-elect Elorza’s fresh vision and new ideas for Providence are inspirational, and I look forward to helping him put together and manage a diverse, energetic, and talented team to serve the residents of our city and deliver on the promise of his administration,” Simon said.

Mayor-elect Elorza also announced the selection of Brett Smiley as his administration’s Chief Operating Officer and Grace Diaz as Senior Adviser on Community Relations.

Smiley said, “I look forward to drawing on my finance and business experience to better align city finances and operations and fully realize Mayor-elect Elorza’s innovative ideas to run a more efficient and effective government.”

Elorza also announced the selection of widely-respected community leader Grace Diaz as his Senior Adviser on Community Relations. Diaz holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Springfield College, and her passion for public service and community activism is known throughout the state. Diaz has served as a member of the RI House of Representatives for 9 years during which she has been strongly committed to engaging the community in her efforts.

“Mayor-elect Elorza is committed to making sure his administration is visible and present in all of Providence’s neighborhoods, and I look forward to helping him bring City Hall services directly into our many communities,” Diaz said.

Diaz resides in the South Side of Providence.

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