Mayor Jorge Elorza

Mayor Jorge Elorza is a Rhode Island politician who served as the Mayor of Providence from 2015 to 2023. He was the first Hispanic mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, and his tenure was marked by efforts to revitalize the city's Downtown Providence area and improve its Providence Public Schools. Elorza's mayoralty was also notable for its focus on Sustainable Providence initiatives, which aimed to reduce the city's Greenhouse gas emissions and promote Renewable energy sources like Solar power and Wind power. During his time in office, Elorza worked closely with organizations like the Providence Foundation and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to attract new businesses and investments to the city.

● Early Life and Education

Jorge Elorza was born on November 24, 1976, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Guatemalan immigrant parents. He grew up in the Smith Hill neighborhood and attended Classical High School, where he was an active member of the National Honor Society and the Debate team. Elorza went on to study at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Government and was involved with the Harvard College Democrats and the Institute of Politics at Harvard University. After graduating from Harvard University, Elorza attended the University of Rhode Island's College of Business Administration, earning a Master's degree in Business administration. He later earned his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review and worked with the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

● Career

Before entering politics, Elorza worked as a Special assistant to the Rhode Island Secretary of State and as a Law clerk for the Rhode Island Supreme Court. He also served as a Staff attorney for the Rhode Island Public Defender's office and was a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. In 2010, Elorza was appointed as a Housing court judge by Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, making him the first Hispanic judge in the state's history. During his time on the bench, Elorza worked to improve access to Affordable housing and reduce Homelessness in Rhode Island, partnering with organizations like the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and the United Way of Rhode Island.

● Mayoralty

Elorza was first elected as the Mayor of Providence in 2014, defeating Republican candidate Daniel Harrop and Independent candidate Vincent Cianci Jr.. He took office in 2015 and was re-elected in 2018, running against Republican candidate Dianne Guillemette and Independent candidate Jeffrey Lemire. During his mayoralty, Elorza focused on revitalizing the city's economy, improving its schools, and promoting Sustainable development initiatives. He worked closely with local businesses, such as Hasbro and CVS Health, to create jobs and stimulate economic growth, and partnered with organizations like the Providence Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center.

● Policies and Initiatives

As mayor, Elorza implemented a range of policies and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for Providence, Rhode Island residents. He launched the Providence Promise program, which provided College savings plans for every Kindergarten student in the city, and worked to expand access to Pre-kindergarten education. Elorza also introduced the Providence Resilience Partnership, a initiative aimed at reducing Climate change impacts and promoting Sustainable infrastructure development. He partnered with organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to protect the city's Water quality and promote Environmental conservation efforts.

● Personal Life

Elorza is married to Stephanie Gonzalez, a Brown University graduate and Public health professional. The couple has two children and resides in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. Elorza is a member of the Providence Rotary Club and has served on the boards of several local organizations, including the United Way of Rhode Island and the Providence Community Library. He has also been involved with national organizations like the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors, working to promote Urban development and Municipal government reform. Elorza has received awards and recognition for his public service, including the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials's Latino Leadership Award.

Category:Mayors of Providence, Rhode Island