PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One day after choosing current Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel as the city's managing director, Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker announced several other appointments.
Carlton Williams, the current streets commissioner, will lead Parker's newly created Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. Joe Grace, communications director for the City Council president's office, will head up the Mayor's Office of Communications. Parker has also selected three deputies to serve on her senior executive staff.
Jessie D. Lawrence, the current director of real estate for the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, will serve as the associate deputy mayor of planning and strategic initiatives. PennDOT regional director Brenda Ríos was named the associate deputy mayor of intergovernmental and legislative affairs, sustainability and engagement.
Finally, Chris Dailey was chosen to be deputy chief of staff, serving under incoming Chief of Staff Tiffany Thurman. Dailey is currently deputy director of Parker’s transition team. He previously worked on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s campaign staff, before taking a role as a special assistant in the Shapiro administration earlier this year.
"Our agenda each day is laser-focused on making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in America, with economic opportunity for all,” Parker said in a statement. “I couldn’t be prouder to welcome each of these highly qualified professionals — Carlton, Joe, Jessie, Brenda and Chris — to serve in the incoming Parker administration.”
Parker expects to announce on Thursday morning her selections for chief public safety director and acting fire commissioner.
She will be sworn in as Philadelphia's 100th mayor on Jan. 2. Also joining her administration will be Kevin Bethel as police commissioner, Sinceré Harris as chief deputy mayor of intergovernmental affairs, sustainability and engagement, and Aren Platt as chief deputy mayor for planning and strategic initiatives.