Paul Bass Photo
Mayor-Elect Toni Harp’s incoming chief of staff said he has heard all the talk about “the old guard” and “dinosaurs” reappearing at City Hall. He made no apologies for what he called the virtues of “experience.”
Harp formally announced the selection of that chief of staff, Tomas Reyes (pictured above), at a press conference Monday at her transition headquarters at 200 Orange St.
She, Reyes, and the rest of the team move into City Hall after Harp’s swearing-in Wednesday.
As chief of staff, Reyes will, among other duties, oversee mayoral-suite employees, decide whether to wake up Harp in the middle of the night in cases of an emergency, and quarterback the administration’s policy initiatives.
Reyes, who is 62, knows the lay of the land when it comes to passing legislation: He served for 18 years on the Board of Aldermen, 12 of those years as president. He worked together with Harp when she was an alderwoman, before she became a state senator; the two took crafted a citywide homeless plan and a school free-breakfast program. (Click here for a previous story about Reyes’ appointment and his city and statewide political background.)
Harp (pictured with Reyes Monday) spoke of their long association and of Reyes’ extensive work in the community, in announcing that she has chosen him for “the most important position in the overall administration.”
So far Harp has tapped people with decades of experience in local politics or government for many of her initial appointments.
Reyes spoke Monday to reporters and a room full of family and friends as well as colleagues from Connecticut Mental Health Center, where he serves as an administrator. (He’s taking a leave to work for Harp.) He said he has heard remarks about how the Harp administration is bringing “the old guard” and “dinosaurs” back to local government.
“Some have even called us ‘fossils,’” Reyes remarked.
To which he responded: “Experience matters.”
“It is an honor for me to serve with a group of people who are experienced, committed, have a proven track record, so that [Harp’s] vision, those plans. can actually be accomplished. One thing is to have an idea. Another thing is to be able to make it happen. I believe that under Mayor Harp, all of those ideas will be made reality in this community,” Reyes said.
He spoke of how his decades of experience — at the Board of Aldermen, as a statewide Latino political leader, at CMHC — have prepared him for an important part of his new job: “To understand how to put as many people around the table as possible — and work so that when everybody leaves the table, they leave with something.” He called that “the essence of good government.”
Reyes Monday with stepson Charlie (far left), wife Grace (right) and Harp.
I don't know nor have an opinion (YET) about Mayor Elect Harp's choices for positions except for Tomas Reyes..... the others will have to show us what they got what they can do and if they are competent. As far as Tomas he is intelligent, has strong leadership skills, can be a peacemaker and knows how to work out compromises. He is very respectful and a good listener but can be tough when needed. He also knows the ins and outs of this city and what and how departments should function. I served with Tomas on the BOA and really feel confident he will do a wonderful job for Toni. I would be very shocked if he didn't!