Voters elected Brett Smiley their next mayor of Providence in last Tuesday’s 2022 Midterm Elections. Smiley is the first openly gay man to serve in this office since US Congressman David Cicilline served as the city’s mayor from 2003 to 2011.
“Brett will be an important voice for equality in Providence!” says the LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Brett is active in a number of non-profits, community groups and causes, including Planned Parenthood, for which he raises funds and provides strategic counsel. He has also been deeply involved with Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) and the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.”
Reports Rhode Island’s WPRI-TV 12:
Smiley, who won a competitive three-way primary in September, was all but guaranteed to be the next mayor, since no Republicans or independents were on the ballot for the general election. But November’s election officially makes him the mayor-elect of Providence.
Smiley was able to get a jump-start on the transition thanks to the lack of competition; he has already named transition team members and staff, and is in the process of reviewing applicants for jobs in his administration.
Smiley will replace Mayor Jorge Elorza for the top job at City Hall. Elorza, who served for eight years, could not run again due to term limits.
“I think Providence can really be a world class city, the envy of other cities around the country,” Smiley said. “We’ve got all the pieces in place and I think people know that. We just never can quite get there, and so by having a compelling vision for economic development … we can be that world class city. I’m confident of it and I’m excited to get to work to get to that point.”
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
