Russell Moore: Meet the Unelected Mayor: Brett Smiley
Monday, November 17, 2014
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Give the new administration credit: they're not time wasters.
More than a month before they're even sworn in, the new regime in Providence already has trouble brewing on the city's East Side, and all the key players are members of == or closely tied into -- the Jorge Elorza transition team.
That shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone given that Elorza was thrust into office based primarily upon his deal-making ability.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Deal Makers
Remember, when then-Democratic primary Mayoral candidates Brett Smiley and Elorza stood alongside one another on that hot day in late August, the two men announced that Smiley would be leaving the race and throwing his support behind Elorza. Then, both men assured the press that no deal between the two men had been cut. Elorza claimed no staffing decision had been made, and that Smiley was not assured of a position in his administration.
Did anyone actually buy that line?
Yet now, it's become clear as crystal, rather quickly, that Smiley, an experienced political operative, was running the day-to-day campaign of Elorza. So it really wasn't much of a surprise last week when Elorza announced that Smiley would be serving in his administration as his Chief Operating Officer. Given the debt that Elorza owes Smiley thanks to that deal, it seems like Smiley is going to be the de facto mayor, calling the shots from behind the scenes--especially considering how emboldened his closest allies are acting.
Serious implications
That truth is already having serious implications on the City of Providence, ironically enough, in the section of the city that served as Elorza's stronghold--the powerful East Side. Elorza rode the wave of high voter turnout on the East Side to provide him with the margins he needed for victory in both the Primary and General Elections.
So it's ironic that the first hurdle of his mayoralty is brewing in that very section of the city even before he's been sworn into office and the top players on his transition team are intricately involved.
The Providence Journal reported on Monday, November 10, that a group of Blackstone Boulevard neighborhood residents are up-in-arms about a plan that would create a massive subdivision at 440-460 Rochambeau Ave, one of the last large estates of its kind in the city. The plan would subdivide the 3.6 acre compound into roughly 12 lots. The residents who oppose the plan say it would significantly alter the character of the neighborhood.
Residents irked
Hundreds of residents have signed an online petition to oppose the plans implementation, which will go before the City Plan Commission tomorrow at 444 Westminster Street.
This issue could become a serious powder keg for Elorza relatively quickly if he doesn't start taking steps to distance himself from this issue. That's because some of the key players behind the deal are also on his transition team or spouses of members of his team. The listing agent on the deal is James Derentis, who is the husband of...you guessed it, Brett Smiley. And the listing agent's President and Chief Executive Officer is Sally Lapides---who is one of three co-chairs of his transition team.
The property's listing price is roughly $5 million dollars. If the property were to sell at that price, Derentis (and therefore Smiley), would stand to make $150,000 on the sale--assuming a 6-percent commission.
No developer?
The plan still currently lacks a developer, so it's interesting that a plan is in place and sailing through the city regulatory bodies without someone coming forward with interest in carrying the plan through. Perhaps the sellers are seeking the changes and plan affirmations to make the property more attractive to potential sellers.
If Elorza is smart, he will take steps to intervene on behalf of the hundreds of East Side residents who are concerned with the potential subdivision and make certain that their concerns are heard. The last thing Elorza needs is for his key constituency to already sour on their man before he even steps into office--unless he'd like to see the boat sink before it's even left the dock.
Russell Moore, a lifelong Rhode Islander, has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, in both newspapers and on political campaigns. Follow him on twitter @russmoore713.
Related Slideshow: Elorza Donors - See 25 Interesting Donors
The election for Mayor of Providence is less than four weeks away. Jorge Elorza raised nearly $200,000 in the latest filing. See 25 of the most interesting donors to his campaign -- the rich, influential and infamous.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Chafee & Cicilline Aide
Deb Brayton
$600
Former top aide to Lincoln Chafee and David Cicilline is a big Elorza supporter (following Smiley's exit) and was part of the core group of the failed Anybody But Cianci effort.
She worked for Chafee in DC and came back to RI to serve as Chief of Staff for Cicilline during his tenure that created the City of Providence's fiscal meltdown.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Widow of Kim Chace
Elizabeth Chace
$2,000
The founder of Residential Properties, Liz Chace has been active on reforming John Hope Settlement House - she was a former Board member.
Chace is the widow of billionaire Malcolm 'Kim' Chace III.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Director
Michael Corrente
$1,000
Corrente is a film director. His films include Shot at Glory, American Buffalo, Outside Providence, Brooklyn Rules and Federal Hill.
He was one of the early organizers in the anti-Buddy Cianci group.
Corrente is being sued for $5 million.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Son of Governor
Dennis DiPrete
$250
DiPrete is the son of former Governor Edward DiPrete. His brother Tom has donated to Cianci.
Dennis is one of the state's most successful engineers and developers.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
PR
Patricia Doyle
$1,000
Doyle's clients include Twin River Casino, Frank Caprio and the Airport Corporation. She was formerly a partner in RDW Group for a couple of decades.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Adrain's Campaign Manager
William Foulkes
$1000
Foulkes was the campaign manager for Lorne Adrain and a member of the ill-fated Anybody But Cianci group. Foulkes' wife, Helena, is a top executive at CVS and was recently named one of the top women in business in the US by Fortune magazine.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Developer
Aram Garabedian
$1000
Garabedian made millions with the malls in Warwick and downtown real estate like the former Amica building.
He was the biggest opponent of the development of the Providence Place Mall.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Gilbane
Nancy Gilbane
$1000
While William Gilbane of the mega-wealthy construction family is doanting and betting on Cianci, Nancy is going for Elorza. The family Gilbane has an estimated wealth of $1.4 billion.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former Top Cicilline Aide
Carol Grant
$1000
Former Chief Operating Officer for then-Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Grant was the go-to person in City Hall.
Previously, she had been an executive with Verizon, Textron and now she is with Second Wind.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Thomas Guerra
$500
While Tom donated to Elorza, his father and visionary behind the transformation of the former Brown & Sharpe complex into the leading live-work environment in the City of Providence - now the Foundry office complex and the Promenade apartments -- donated to Cianci.
His family made GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former Hosp. President
Constance Howes
$500
The former President of Women and Infants Hospital is now an executive with Care New England. Her husband Kelly Sheridan has ben a lobbyist for everything from the Providence Chamber to big tobacco.
#19 on GoLocal's ranking of the Richest and Most Influential.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Waterfront
Chris Hunter
$500
Hunter is lead consultant for the Working Waterfront in Providence - the group is at the forefront of the battle between the pro-industrial users like Sims Metals (Elorza) and the mixed use plans of Cianci. This week the two Mayoral campaigns made charges and counter charges about what is the right plan for Allens Avenue and the Port of Providence.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Founder of BIF
Saul Kaplan
$500
Saul Kaplan is emerging as the biggest thought leader in RI. His BIF Summit attracts many of the country and world's biggest thought leaders in business.
His Business Innovation Factory is a business think tank and consulting firm. He is the former EDC director and a business MINDSETTER™ to GoLocalProv.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Real Estate Mogul
Sally Lapides
$750
Lapides is the CEO at Residential Properties and was one of the organizers of the anti-Cianci group. She is recognized as a leader in the community and a major East Side influencer.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Set Designer
Eugene Lee
$750
Lee is a Tony Award winning theater designer. He started at Trinity and has designed TV sets for Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
He has designed many of Trinity's Reps' most elaborate sets.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Union Leader
Karen McAninch
$250
While police, fire, teachers, Teamsters and city workers' unions have gone with Cianci, McAnnich is one union leader to sign on with Elorza.
She is with the United Service and Allied Workers of RI.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Beer Distributor
Timothy Moran
$500
Moran's beer distribution company - McLaughlin & Moran - is one of the largest in the region. He has now relocated to Florida.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Taveras' Lawyer
Thomas Moses
$1000
Moses is the boss of the firm Moses & Alfonso - one of the top political firms in the City. Recently, the firm paid a $4.4 million settlement for the firms involvement with 38 Studios.
The firm has been a strong supporter of sitting Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former Fleet Bank CEO
J. Terrence and Suzanne Murray
$2000
The former CEO of Fleet Bank built the bank into one of the largest in America before selling to Bank of America. The bank has the tenant at the now vacant Superman Building. Murray now lives in Palm Beach, Florida.
While the Murrays lives outside of RI for most of the year, they still ranked #36 in GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former GOP Leader
Lila Sapinsley
$500
Once the Minority Leader of the Senate Republicans in the 1980s, Sapinsley has been a leader in the moderate wing of the GOP in RI for years.
She was a regular guest on A Lively Experiment for more than a decade.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former BankRI CEO
Merril Sherman
$1000
The former BANKRI CEO was once rumored to be a candidate for Mayor of Providence. Sherman has been active in politics and the community.
She is now a special master in resolving the federal forclosure crisis. She ranks #23 on GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former Brown VP
Richard Spies
$120
Spies came to Brown from Princeton and served as the #2 for Ruth Simmons for a decade. He drove the negotiations with Cicilline and Taveras.
Spies continues to live in Providence.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Former Hasbro
Alfred Verrechia
$500
Verrechia was the longtime executive and ultimately CEO of Hasbro.
Today, Verrecchia serves on the boards of Iron Mountain, FM Global and Lifespan -- and previously, RIEDC and CVS.
He ranks #20 on GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Super Lobbyist
Christopher Vitale
$1000
Vitale is a big time lobbyist up at the State House and close ally to former Speaker Gordon Fox. His Capitol City Group represents healthcare and energy clients.
Enjoy this post? Share it with others.
