After Delays, McKee’s Transition Team Announced, Does Not Include Raimondo Staffers or Top Employers
Saturday, January 23, 2021
After ten days of promising who incoming Governor Daniel McKee would be tapping for his transition team, his office announced on Saturday the team's members.
Who the list doesn’t include may be as newsworthy as who McKee tapped.
The list doesn’t include any executives from Rhode Island’s top employers or major public companies — CVS, Textron, Hasbro, Electric Boat, UNFI or others.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe list does however includes a number of small business owners.
SEE THE LIST BELOW
Nor does the list include any representatives of the signature companies that Governor Gina Raimondo attracted to the state -- Johnson & Johnson, General Electric or others.
Perhaps the most surprising is that the list does not include any senior members of Raimondo’s staff or cabinet. GoLocal has learned that of Raimondo's personal staff of 40, fewer than ten have voiced an interest in staying with McKee.
McKee on Team
“I will bring a grassroots, community-oriented philosophy to the Governor’s office because I believe state policies and programs should have the active input of our community leaders and citizens,” said McKee. “I believe Rhode Islanders deserve a leader who will listen to and engage them, and I will reach out to all 39 of our cities and towns to ensure they are heard. Our citizens want results that flow from their values and priorities – my transition has been built around this idea.”
McKee is faced with significant challenges -- near record unemployment, a $500 million deficit and the greatest public health emergency of the past century.
"Every single one of our 39 cities and towns will be represented, and its membership will reflect Rhode Island’s diversity. I believe that every voice counts and that everyone can make a contribution to defeat COVID-19, reopen our economy, and get our children back in the classroom safely. I will value every single transition member’s unique perspective and I look forward to working with them," said McKee.
"Everyone involved in this transition knows the stakes are high, and we won’t let Rhode Islanders down. The COVID-19 pandemic has closed schools, devastated small business, caused record unemployment, and created a significant budget shortfall. This team and my administration are ready to tackle those challenges from our first day in office. We all look forward to getting to work,” he added.
The Incoming Governor will announce additional transition advisors in the coming weeks. This week, he will meet virtually with a grassroots group of over 150 Rhode Islanders representing all 39 cities and towns to identify issues that are important to them and discuss ways to engage them in the transition.
Initial members:
Transition Chairperson
Joseph Rodio, Jr.
Transition Organizing Directors
Paulette Hamilton, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Lt. Governor
Anthony Silva, Chief of Staff, Office of the Lt. Governor
Elizabeth Tanner, Director, RI Department of Business Regulation
Transition Communications Team
Brian Jencunas, Volunteer
Andrea Palagi, Communications Director, Office of the Lt. Governor
Michael Trainor, Volunteer
Transition Staff
Cheyenne Cazeault, Special Projects Manager, Office of the Lt. Governor
Craig Dwyer, Senior Policy Advisory, Office of the Lt. Governor
Rosa DeCastillo, Policy Analyst, Office of the Lt. Governor
Tabatha Dube, Executive Secretary, Office of the Lt. Governor
Senior Advisors
Representative Mia Ackerman, Deputy Majority Whip
Lincoln Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond
Rev. Dr. Chris Abhulime, King's Tabernacle Church
Former Lieutenant Governor Roger Begin
Channavy Chhay, Executive Director, Center for Southeast Asians
William Conley, Jr. Esq.
Caswell Cooke, Executive Director, Misquamicut Business Association
Senator Louis DiPalma, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules, Gov. Ethics & Oversight
Corey Jones, Executive Director, Black Lives Matter New England PAC
North Providence Mayor Lombardi
Ana Bess Moyer Bell, Founder, Creating Outreach About Addiction Support
Representative Robert Phillips, Deputy Majority Leader
Jennifer Ortiz, Owner, Executive Cuts
Chris Parisi, Founder/CEO, Trailblaze Marketing
Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena
Senator Ana Quezada, Deputy Majority Whip
Armand E. Sabitoni, LIUNA General Secretary-Treasurer & New England Regional Manager
Chief Brian Sullivan, Lincoln Police Department
James Vincent, President, NAACP Providence Branch
Inauguration Co-Chairs
Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien
Cumberland Mayor Jeff Mutter
"Members of Incoming Governor McKee’s transition team and past government officials have been meeting with state department leaders to discuss departmental operations, time sensitive short-term initiatives that may be impacted by the transition, and agency budgets," said his office. Participants include:
Tony Afonso, Esq.
Lisa Andoscia, President, Rosewood Consulting
Scott Avedisian, CEO, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
Lt. General Centracchio (Retired)
Channavy Chhay, Executive Director, Center for Southeast Asians
William J. Conley Jr., Esq.
Rosa DeCastillo, Policy Analyst, Lt. Governor’s Office
Colonel Brendan Doherty (Retired)
Erin Donovan Boyle, Executive Director, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Paulette Hamilton, Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt. Governor’s Office
Former Lieutenant Governor Richard Licht
Charles Roberts, Founder/Executive Director, Rhode Island Slave History Medallions
Anthony Silva, Chief of Staff, Lt. Governor’s Office
EDITOR'S NOTE: A Press release from the McKee transition team claimed, Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean, Brown University School of Public Health was a member of the transition team. That was incorrect.
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