Jorge Elorza

Jorge Elorza
38th Mayor of Providence
Assumed office
January 5, 2015
Preceded by Angel Taveras
Personal details
Born (1976-11-24) November 24, 1976[1]
Providence, Rhode Island[2]
Political party Democratic
Alma mater University of Rhode Island
Harvard Law School
Website Government Website
Mayor Elorza is an avid cyclist.[3] Here he addresses a Bike-to-Work Day gathering in Burnside Park, May 15, 2015.

Jorge O. Elorza (born November 24, 1976)[1] is an American law professor and mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He defeated former mayor Buddy Cianci in the 2014 mayoral election and on 5 January 2015 was sworn in as mayor of the city.[4][5]

Early life and education

Elorza's parents immigrated from Guatemala in 1975.[6] Jorge Elorza was born and raised in the West End of Providence, Rhode Island.[2] He attended local public schools, including Asa Messer elementary, Bridgham middle school, and Classical High School.[1] The first of his family to attend college, he enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island before transferring to the University of Rhode Island.[7][8] He worked as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York, and then attended Harvard Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor.[9][10]

After the death of a hometown friend, Elorza left Wall Street and returned to Rhode Island.[7] Elorza teaches law at the Roger Williams University School of Law.[10] In 2010 he was appointed to the Providence Housing Court, where he replaced Angel Taveras.[9]

Mayor of Providence (2015–present)

The Providence mayoral race in 2014 was Elorza's first try at elective office.[3] He was sworn in as mayor on 5 January 2015 on the steps of Providence City Hall.[11] In his inaugural speech, Elorza promised to deliver "a city that works".[12]

Early in his first term, Elorza was credited for working closely with the City Council and Governor's office.[3] Within his first 100 days he appointed an "innovation officer" to streamline operations and coordinate city activities.[3][12] He appointed a representative to the city ethics commission for the first time in nine years.[3] He also reached out to constituents with a "Twitter Town Hall."[3]

During his first year in office, Elorza implemented a complaint response system which generated responses to a backlog of thousands of unanswered complaints to the city.[12] City Hall employees have been required to take customer-service training.[12] New contracts were reached with the City Hall and Public Works and Parks Department unions.[12] A program was set up to take control of abandoned houses, and turn them over to buyers who will fix them.[12] Elorza also created an anti-prostitution effort known as "Operation Backpage", which has arrested several dozen men for solicitation.[12]

Elorza's government has also presided over a budget shortfall and is facing a court fight with the city's firefighters union over schedule changes.[12]

Personal life

Elorza is an avid cyclist and fitness enthusiast.[3] He frequently commutes by bicycle from his home in Olneyville to City Hall.[3][13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Campaign 2014: Providence Mayor". WPRI Eyewitness News. WPRI News. Retrieved 4 February 2015. Born: Nov. 24, 1976
  2. 1 2 Abuaita, Alexander (15 October 2014). "BPR Interview: Jorge Elorza". Brown Political Review. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hill, John (23 April 2015). "Providence Mayor Elorza's first 100 days get high marks". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Jorge Elorza sworn in as Providence’s 38th mayor". wpri.com. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Wright, Emily (4 November 2014). "Jorge Elorza Defeats Buddy Cianci in Providence Mayoral Race". Boston.com. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. ↑ McGowan, Dan (5 January 2015). "Jorge Elorza sworn in as Providence’s 38th mayor". WPRI Eyewitness News. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 "CCRI speaker offers grads ways to measure success". Warwick Beacon. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.ccri.edu/alumni/pdfs/GWWinter2015.pdf
  9. 1 2 McGowan, Dan (18 November 2013). "Democrat Jorge Elorza launches bid for Providence mayor". WPRI. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Jorge O. Elorza". Roger Williams University School of Law.
  11. ↑ NBC 10 News. "Elorza takes office as Providence mayor". Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hill, John (2 January 2016). "Providence's Mayor Elorza showed initiative in 1st year, but problems loom in 2016". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Blanchette, Matt (15 May 2015). "Mayor Elorza bikes to work daily". ABC 6 News. Retrieved 16 May 2015. Elorza rides to work nearly every single day from his home in Olneyville.
Political offices
Preceded by
Angel Taveras		 Mayor of Providence
2015–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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