DETROIT – Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield is tapping her long-time Chief of Staff, Brian White, to serve as Deputy Mayor of the City of Detroit—a leadership role that will support the incoming administration in ushering in a new era of city government that is community-centered, forward-thinking, transparent, and relentlessly focused on improving the quality of life for every Detroiter.
White has worked alongside Mayor-elect Sheffield for more than a decade, as her chief of staff, leading her team when she was first elected to the city council and later as Detroit City Council president. White played a pivotal role in Sheffield’s mission to challenge the status quo and advocate for Detroit’s marginalized communities, helping to deliver wins on: affordable housing, economic development, property tax reform, ethics and transparency efforts, and for workers and organized labor.
“Brian has been my chief of staff for more than a decade and I’ve seen firsthand his unwavering commitment to the people of Detroit,” said Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield. “He understands that the work of governing is about the people and he shares my vision for an administration that listens, learns and leads with compassion. As Deputy Mayor, he will play a crucial role in helping lead this city forward by assisting me with executing the rigorous and transformative policy agenda I set forth during this past election cycle.”
White has held a variety of roles that shaped his understanding of government, policy and community. He served as State Director for the Michigan Election Protection initiative during the 2004 presidential election, joined the staff of America Votes Michigan as the Field/Political Director and held the role of Michigan local advocate for the Advancement Project, a Washington D.C.—based voting and civil rights policy organization. White, a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he studied economics and African American studies, also served as Financial Advisor with American Express and cut his teeth in politics and advocacy at the Detroit Branch NAACP as the organization’s Public Policy Manager.
As Deputy Mayor, White will oversee the state and federal policy agenda, labor relations, regional partnerships and the overall operational function of city government, as well as serve as a senior advisor to Mayor-Elect Sheffield as she executes her vision of creating an administration built on the voices and priorities of the people. He is a long-time Detroit resident and dedicated family man to his wife, Toi and their three children, Brian, Jr., Nala and Jaden.
“I am deeply honored to continue serving the people of Detroit in this new role,” said White. “For more than a decade, I’ve worked alongside Mayor-elect Sheffield as we pushed for a city government that listens to its residents and fights for fairness, opportunity and dignity for all. I believe wholeheartedly in her vision for an administration rooted in transparency, community partnership and equitable progress. I am eager to continue the work we started to deliver on the Mayor-elect’s people-centered and pro-growth policy agenda which will help Detroit’s progress reach more Detroiters and deeper into the neighborhoods.”
Mayor-elect Sheffield is assembling a talented, diverse team of leaders who bring deep expertise, lived experience and the courage to put forward bold, innovative ideas that move Detroit forward. More announcements will come in the following weeks.
If you are interested in applying for a job in the Sheffield Administration, a list of current openings can be found at www.risehigherdetroit.com/jobs.
