PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker wasted no time in setting the foundation for her upcoming administration. At a news conference on Thursday — her first since Tuesday’s election — Parker promised to announce a new police commissioner by Thanksgiving, as she introduced her transition team.
“Today is a special day for the life of our city,” said Mayor Jim Kenney, who formally welcomed his successor with congratulations before a packed City Hall Reception Room. She promised to preserve the legacy of his administration.
Parker has a lot of ambitious plans of her own, however, and as she often said on the campaign trail, she’s counting on a village to help. “I can’t do this alone. I won’t do this alone,” she said.
The transition team is a small village in itself, with 40 members including some familiar names — among them, Rich Lazer from the Philadelphia Parking Authority, former councilman Derek Green, Obra Kernodle from American Airlines and Joe Neubauer from Aramark. The team is headed up by Building Trades leader Ryan Boyer.
Parker said her first appointment would be police commissioner. She would not tip her hand on likely candidates, but talked generally about the qualities she looks for in a commissioner.
“We are talking to both local and national candidates. The next commissioner needs to have my trust and support as mayor and the support of the rank and file,” she said, adding that the new hire would need cultural competency and familiarity with the city. She cited advice she’d gotten from Sharon Weston Broome, the mayor-president of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“[She] said, Cherelle, C and C. Remember the importance of chemistry and credentials,” Parker recalled.
That will go, no doubt, for all the new hires Parker will make with the help of her transition team. Boyer stressed that all candidates — including current employees, would have to apply through their website.