Wilmington Mayor-elect Purzycki unveils massive transition team

As Mike Purzycki prepares to become Wilmington’s next mayor, he’s assembled a big group of advisors to help him hit the ground running in January.

The list of Purzycki’s transition team members reads like a who’s who of Wilmington movers and shakers. More than 100 people have joined 13 committees that will help Purzycki evaluate the status of city government and plan for his administration.

“This outstanding group of people will bring their experience, energy and ideas to the table as we begin to improve the lives of everyone in our city,” Purzycki said. “Over the next month or more, we’ll review the government and make determinations about current operations and what we need to do going forward.”

He listed three areas as priorities including improving public safety, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating an efficient and transparent city government.

Members of the public can offer ideas on how to accomplish some of those goals by clicking the “ideas” button on Purzycki’s campaign website mikeformayor2016.com.

The transition team is being led by Rev. Silvester Beamen, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Maria Matos, CEO of the Latin American Community Center, and Charlie McDowell, an attorney with the law firm of Potter Anderson and Corroon. The transition committee include groups focused on arts and culture, economic development, finance and police. Former Wilmington Police Chief Mike Szczerba is on the police comittee along with former Delaware Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Lew Schiliro.