Rochester Mayor Warren Names Brittaney Wells As Chief Of Staff

Press release from the City of Rochester:

September 28 2020

Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that she has appointed Brittaney Wells as the City of Rochester Chief of Staff to manage some of the Mayor’s key priorities, including the implementation of an aggressive agenda to provide all citizens access to equal rights and an equal opportunity to benefit from the economic transformation of Rochester. The appointment is effective today.

“Brittaney Wells has a proven track record of successfully turning ideas into accomplishments and making the power of belief become real,” said Mayor Warren. “I am thrilled that she has agreed to return to City Hall and help me bring my vision to reality and make sure every citizen can share in the promise of Rochester. With Brittaney on our team, we are in an even stronger position to fulfill our goals to create more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities.”

“I want to thank Mayor Warren for this opportunity to once again directly serve the citizens of Rochester,” said Ms. Wells. “The great Shirley Chisolm famously said: ‘You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.’ I can think of no better ideas to implement toward the progress of Rochester than those developed by Mayor Warren and her team.”

Ms. Wells, has a long history as one of Mayor Warren’s most trusted advisors and effective administrators. She returns to City Hall after completing a two-year term as the Chair and Executive Director of the Monroe County Democratic Party, a period that saw the local party record historic election victories, particularly among women and candidates of color. In 2017, Ms. Wells managed the Mayor’s successful re-election campaign.

Prior to moving to MCDC from City Hall, Ms. Wells launched the Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building with the mission to develop policies that combine existing government programs with the business community, the non-profit sector and educational institutions to help all city residents earn a living wage for themselves and their families, build generational wealth and achieve equal pay for equal work.

She first joined the Mayor’s team in 2014 working in intergovernmental affairs for the City’s Chief of Staff and then as a neighborhood liaison in the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services. Prior to coming to City Hall, she worked for then-U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Hochul and also worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Ms. Wells has worked on several national, state and local political campaigns, including President Barack Obama’s 2008 election. She holds a B.S. in Political Science from SUNY Brockport.

Ms. Wells lives in Rochester’s 19th Ward Neighborhood with her 9-year-old daughter.

Ms. Wells replaces Alex Yudelson, Mayor Warren’s chief of staff since January 2017. Mr. Yudelson will remain in a temporary role as an Advisor to the Mayor to facilitate a smooth transition and complete important tasks, including the completion of a complete 2020 Census count (announced today to be extended through October); assisting with pandemic recovery efforts and advocating for the needs of the city in State and Federal relief bills; and helping the Mayor define her policy agenda. Mr. Yudelson’s next endeavor will be announced in the near future.

“I want to thank Alex Yudelson for his service to the citizens of Rochester and the role he played in advancing some of the City’s most important initiatives, including helping us secure the Governor’s commitment to invest in our ROC the Riverway project,” Mayor Warren said. “Since joining our team, Alex has helped us articulate the exciting potential of this great city through the lens of hope and change. I will miss his unrelenting optimism and belief in Rochester and I am excited to see what he does in the next stage of his ongoing commitment to helping others.”

News Media: For more information, contact Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.

This press release was produced by the City of Rochester. The views expressed here are the author’s own.