PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Jim Kenney signed Executive Order No. 3-23 today, formalizing the City’s plans to prepare for a successful mayoral transition and continuity of City operations during the transition period.

“Every day, tens of thousands of City employees carry out the essential functions of local government, providing the services that residents, workers, and visitors rely on in their daily lives,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “One of our top priorities this year is to establish a Mayoral transition process that minimizes disruption to City operations and allows the next Administration the opportunity to build on our progress and success. My guiding principle as Mayor has always been to ensure that Philadelphia’s future is better and brighter for our City’s children and generations to come. A successful handoff to the next Mayor is a core part of my Administration’s values, and, I believe, an essential function of this office.

“I am confident in the Transition Director and Committee, and their plans to ensure that the incoming administration is fully prepared for day one,” Mayor Kenney added. “This is no small task, and I am grateful for their support and commitment to City’s long-term success.”

The Executive order calls for the appointment of a Transition Director and Transition Committee. Lyana Cuadrado, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Mayor’s Office, will serve as Transition Director.

“Our goal in transition planning is to ensure a smooth transfer of governance from this Administration to the next and leave them set up for success,” said Lyana Cuadrado, Transition Director. “After the municipal primary, we look forward to working with the candidates to ensure that they have equal access to transition information and can prepare for the possibility of taking office.

The Transition Committee will consist of representatives from:

  • Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

  • Office of the Chief Integrity Officer

  • Office of Human Resources

  • Office of Innovation and Technology

  • Department of Records

In addition, every City department will designate Departmental Transition Coordinators to work with the Committee. Departments will work with the Committee to document for transition purposes how departments are organized, how they operate, their core responsibilities, key programs, and other essential information. Between the municipal primary and general elections of 2023, candidates for Mayor will have access to this information and the opportunity to request additional information if needed in order to prepare for the possibility of assuming office.

“We applaud Mayor Kenney for taking seriously a transition process that will have a real impact on the next mayor’s readiness to govern from day one,”said Ashley Session, Senior Director of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives for the Committee of Seventy. The Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has promoted, supported and facilitated government ethics and election integrity for more than a century. “The Committee of Seventy is excited to support this process as a trusted, nonpartisan stakeholder in good governance. This isn’t just about ensuring a smooth handoff for people in government, but making sure that government is in the best possible position to continue serving city residents for the next four years.”

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