Brett Smiley
2023 - Present
2027
1
Brett Smiley (Democratic Party) is the Mayor of Providence in Rhode Island. Smiley assumed office on January 2, 2023. Smiley's current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Smiley (Democratic Party) ran for election for Mayor of Providence in Rhode Island. Smiley won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
From July 2016 through December 2019, Smiley was the chief of staff for Gov. Gina Raimondo (D).[1] Smiley left his position as chief of staff when Raimondo appointed him as acting director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration.[2]
Biography
Brett Smiley earned a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in business administration from DePaul University in 2001 and 2003, respectively.[3] Smiley's career experience includes founding CFO Consulting and working as the campaign manager for the Rhode Island gubernatorial campaign of then-Lieutenant Governor Charles Fogarty, the chief operating officer of the City of Providence, the chief of staff for former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and the acting director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration.[1][4][5][6][2]
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Brett Smiley as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[7]
- Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
- Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[7]
Elections
2022
See also: Mayoral election in Providence, Rhode Island (2022)
General election
General election for Mayor of Providence
Brett Smiley won election in the general election for Mayor of Providence on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brett Smiley (D) | 94.1 | 28,351 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 5.9 | 1,787 | ||
| Total votes: 30,138 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Wilbur Jennings Jr. (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Mayor of Providence
Brett Smiley defeated Gonzalo Cuervo and Nirva LaFortune in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Providence on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brett Smiley | 41.8 | 9,025 |
 | Gonzalo Cuervo | 36.6 | 7,905 | |
| Nirva LaFortune | 21.5 | 4,643 | |
| Total votes: 21,573 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brett Smiley did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Providence Journal, "Brett Smiley to begin as Governor Raimondo’s chief of staff in September," July 18, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Providence Journal, "Raimondo picks Brett Smiley to lead R.I. Department of Administration," December 3, 2019
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Brett Smiley," accessed September 5, 2017
- ↑ WPRI, "Elorza’s campaign fundraising firm has close ties to top City Hall aide," November 4, 2015
- ↑ Go Local Prov, "Major RI State House and Providence City Hall Staff Shake-Up," July 17, 2016
- ↑ Options Magazine, "The Role of Gays in Government: An Interview with Brett Smiley," October 19, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Jorge Elorza (D) |
Mayor of Providence 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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