Mayor-Elect Lovely Warren has announced another round of top-level appointments in her upcoming administration, and also commented on the reports out of Georgia that Cedric Alexander, rumored to be a top choice to return to Rochester as Police Chief, has decided to stay as chief in DeKalb County.
“As reported, I reached out to Dr. Cedric Alexander to discuss the position of Chief of Police. As the conversation progressed, it became clear that we could not compete financially with an offer made by his current employer -- DeKalb County, Georgia. I believe that Dr. Alexander might have been a good choice for the Rochester Police Department, and the citizens of Rochester, but his work in DeKalb is not finished. I have interviewed several great candidates, but given the tremendous importance of this position, I have decided to conduct a national search for our next Chief of Police. As soon as the appropriate process has been determined, it will be announced. Until that search is complete, Deputy Chief Michael Ciminelli will become Acting Chief,” Warren said.
Warren did announce three other appointments on Monday night:
Delmonize Smith, Commissioner, Neighborhood and Business Development
"Del" Smith is an associate professor of management at the Saunders College of Business, where he teaches courses in entrepreneurship, leadership, and organizational behavior. He is also the inaugural director of RIT's Center for Urban Entrepreneurship (CUE).
T. Andrew Brown, Corporation Counsel
Brown is the Managing Partner of Brown & Hutchinson. He began practicing law in 1984 with the New York City offices of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle (now Nixon Peabody) and later relocated to Rochester with the firm. Prior to launching Brown & Hutchinson in 1994, he also served as Deputy County Attorney for Monroe County while serving as an advisor to the County Executive and other senior County officials. Brown is also former General Counsel of the National Bar Association, the largest association of attorneys and judges of color in the world. He is a past President of the Monroe County Bar Association. He is also a past President of The Rochester Black Bar Association. And Brown is also a member of the NYS Board of Regents.
C. Mitchell Rowe, Director of Planning and Zoning
Rowe has over thirty years of municipal experience, currently serving as the County Manager for Seneca County. Rowe returns to Rochester City Hall after service with the Town of Irondequoit as the Director of Planning & Community Development from 2006 to 2008, and since 2008 with Seneca County, first as Director of Planning and Community Development and then as the County Manager. Rowe began his career in government with the City of Rochester in the early 1980’s and held a number of positions during his nearly twenty-five years with the City; including Deputy Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Human Services, Assistant to the Deputy Mayor, Neighborhood Empowerment Team Administrator, Senior City Planner and Neighborhood Conservation Officer. Mitch also served as a Monroe County Legislator from 2002 to 2005.
