PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker has chosen her campaign manager and two of the campaign’s senior advisers to lead her staff after her swearing-in, in two weeks.
Parker’s campaign manager, Sinceré Harris, will become the chief deputy mayor of intergovernmental affairs, sustainability and engagement. Senior advisor Tiffany Thurman will become chief of staff, and fellow senior advisor Aren Platt will become chief deputy mayor for planning and strategic initiatives.
Platt has been advising Parker for more than a decade. Harris joined the team for the mayoral campaign but has spent years in politics, including serving as executive director of the state Democratic Party and in the Biden-Harris White House, in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Thurman joined the campaign from the private firm Accenture but spent years in government, including as executive director of the Philadelphia County delegation to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In keeping with Parker’s preference for local talent, Harris is a graduate of Philadelphia public schools and Temple University. Thurman is also a Temple grad with a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Her husband teaches in the School District of Philadelphia.
Thurman says the jobs take into consideration how their skills can best achieve Parker’s goals.
"We looked at what are the needs of the city, what are our skill sets capabilities, and then how do we best align that to ensure we have the most optimal and efficient impact," she said.
The announcement comes nearly two months after Parker named Kevin Bethel as the new commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department.
Parker still has not announced her choice for managing director.
Platt says their roles are still taking shape and Parker will be putting out an action plan on inauguration day that will lay out plans for the next 100 days.