Updated: Now includes press release
Mayor Nutter has named Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison his new chief of staff.
Gillison has served as the deputy mayor since 2008 and will be replacing Clay Armbrister who stepped down several months ago.
Gillison who worked as a public defender for 22 years before becoming deputy mayor will continue to oversee the city's public safety departments.
Check out the press release below:
City of Philadelphia
MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES EVERETT GILLISON
AS CHIEF OF STAFF
Suzanne Biemiller to assume position of First Deputy Chief of Staff.
Philadelphia, October 19, 2011 –Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that Everett Gillison, formerly Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, will assume the position of Chief of Staff. Suzanne Biemiller, who served as Interim Chief of Staff, will assume the position of First Deputy Chief of Staff. Michael Resnick, who served as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, will assume the new title of Director of Public Safety.
"Everett, who is already a trusted and admired member of my Administration, will take over the responsibilities as Chief of Staff. He assumes this role with my utmost respect and admiration for his work on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. We are lucky to have someone with his skill set and background in this position" said Mayor Nutter. "Suzanne has been a dedicated public servant, executing the duties of Chief of Staff with skill and integrity. She has guided this Administration and the City through challenging circumstances since the departure of Clay Armbrister, and I wholeheartedly thank her for her ongoing commitment to our great city."
As Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, Mr. Gillison oversaw the Police and Fire Departments, Prisons, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Mayor's Office of Reintegration Services for Ex-Offenders. Prior to his appointment to the Administration on January 7, 2008, Mr. Gillison served at the Defender Association of Philadelphia for twenty-eight years; six years as a social worker and twenty-two years as an attorney. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Syracuse University's College of Law. Mr. Gillison is a native Philadelphian who grew up in West Philadelphia and graduated from University City High School. He still lives in West Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters.
"I was humbled by the first opportunity the Mayor presented to me to serve as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety nearly four years ago, and I am deeply honored by this second opportunity to now serve as Chief of Staff," said Everett Gillison. "The Mayor knows my commitment to his vision for our City: it is about transparency, ethics and having the best government this city has ever had. I will be a consistent voice for the Mayor and the citizens of Philadelphia."
Prior to serving as Interim Chief of Staff, Suzanne Biemiller was appointed to the Cabinet level position of Director of Policy, Planning and Coordination by Mayor Nutter on January 1, 2010. She convened and coordinated the activities of the policy roundtable established within the Office of the Mayor and coordinated policy development among senior members of the Administration. She previously served in a grant-funded role at the Mayor's Office of Sustainability and helped to develop Greenworks Philadelphia. Before joining the Administration, Ms. Biemiller served as a senior program officer for The Pew Charitable Trusts where she managed the creation of the Philadelphia Research Initiative. Ms. Biemiller received her undergraduate degree from Williams College and has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
"It has been a true honor to serve the Mayor and the City of Philadelphia in this role, and I am very much looking forward to working with Everett as his first Deputy," said Suzanne Biemiller. "I've loved getting to know him over the past few years and can't wait to get to know him even better as we strive to keep pushing to ensure that Philadelphia's best days are still in front of it.
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