Warwick, RI – Susan Baker, long-serving press secretary for Mayor Scott Avedisian, has been re-assigned to the Planning Department, the Mayor confirmed Tuesday.
Baker, who has been the Mayor’s press secretary for the past 14 years, served on Avedisian’s first mayoral campaign in 2000, a five-way special election race the mayor won with 58% of the vote.
Baker was also assistant editor of the Narragansett Times and a former reporter for the Warwick Beacon in the 1990s.
Avedisian said Baker was looking for a change of pace, and moved to a vacancy at the Planning Department. Alysia Harpootian, who worked as a speechwriter for former Gov. Donald Carcieri, will take her place as press secretary, he said.
The press secretary’s post is the second position on the Mayor’s staff to switch hands in recent months. In June, Avedisian appointed City Planner William DePasquale, Jr. as Interim Chief of Staff at City Hall following the retirement of Mark Carruolo.
On Monday, Avedisian said he is considering combining the work of the planning department and his office more closely. He said filling the Chief of Staff position permanently may happen within the next several weeks.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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