Somerville Mayor-Elect Names Transition Team

SOMERVILLE, MA — Mayor-elect Katjana Ballantyne has selected an outgoing Boston cabinet member to lead a transition process that "builds upon existing strengths while emphasizing the fact-based best practices needed to deliver top-quality services, strong social progress, and make Somerville a model for municipal governance," according to a press release from her office.

Boston's outgoing Health and Human Services Chief Marty Martinez will lead the transition team, which includes Elaine Varelas, managing partner, Keystone Partners; Cynthia Maltbie, retired former chief of human resources, Partners in Health and Fidelity Investments; and Katie Brillantes, a seasoned government project manager and policy analyst and long-time Somerville resident.

"My goal is to get to work on Day One on the issues that are the primary concerns of the people of Somerville: affordability, the environment, transportation, mobility, education, health, and COVID19 safety and recovery," Ballantyne said in a statement. "The list of critical issues is long, and I intend to address them with the most qualified staff, the best structures, and always an ear to the ground to hear the many voices in our community."

Mayor Joseph Curtatone's transition team includes Jennifer Flagg, a veteran in public sector organizational management, and Stephen Lisauskas, who has consulted respecting operational and financial best-practices of many cities. Curtatone has made himself and all staff available to actively aid the transfer of governance, Ballantyne's office said.

"Too often, transitions at the municipal level suffer from putting politics before purpose," Curtatone said in a release. "Mayor-Elect Ballantyne has worked systematically to build upon what’s currently working, keep and recruit top talent and ideas based on merit, and inject a focus on equity into every conversation. It's good to know I'm leaving Somerville in ethical, competent, compassionate hands."

Ballantyne will be sworn in as mayor at Inaugural Ceremonies on Monday, Jan. 3.