As the 39th Mayor of the City of Providence, Brett Smiley has prioritized improvements to the local quality-of-life issues that matter most to the Providence community. Since taking office, he has made strategic investments in public safety, housing, education and climate resiliency and is working to make City Hall a center for accessible, high-quality services. By bringing together the brightest minds in Rhode Island and focusing on the issues that have a tangible impact on residents and businesses in every neighborhood, Mayor Smiley is putting Providence on a path to becoming the best-run city in America.
Under his leadership, Providence is addressing systemic challenges that are impacting communities across the nation like homelessness and affordable housing, with innovative, data-driven solutions. Mayor Smiley is investing in both immediate and long-term housing solutions while also working across departments to make building more housing at every price point easier. He is putting the safety of Providence’s community first by increasing investments in the Police and Fire Departments, bolstering community policing efforts and prioritizing both violent crimes and quality-of-life crimes.
Guided by community feedback, Mayor Smiley developed a Capital Improvement Plan that invests in the city’s sidewalks, roads, parks and greenspaces and prioritizes climate resiliency as a core component of the city’s ongoing infrastructure plans. The plan includes critical funding for sewer and stormwater management improvements to mitigate flooding and build a more sustainable future for generations to come.
And following through on a campaign promise, Mayor Smiley negotiated and signed a historic $223 million payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the city’s colleges and universities that more than doubled the financial contributions the city receives and now serves as a national model.
Mayor Smiley previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Providence, Chief of Staff to former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Rhode Island’s Director of Administration. During his tenure, he tackled some of the state’s toughest challenges and helped guide the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Smiley has been involved with Planned Parenthood, Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI), Rhode Island Housing, Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts (RICARES) and the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. He currently serves on the United States Conference of Mayors Advisory Board and is the Co-Chair of the Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force.
Mayor Smiley graduated from DePaul University with a degree in finance and an MBA. He resides on the East Side with his husband, Jim DeRentis, their dog and their two cats. Both Brett and Jim are avid runners who share a deep love for Providence.
