Detroit Mayor-elect and City Council President Mary Sheffield is bringing her top staffer along to join her administration in January 2026.
Sheffield’s City Council Chief of Staff Brian White will be joining the ranks as her deputy mayor. White stood behind Sheffield for more than a decade as she pushed for affordable housing, property tax reform, legal help for renters, development and more in the city since her first term on the council. White also has supported her throughout her successful campaign for mayor.
“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,” Sheffield said in a statement. “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 will serve as a senior adviser to Sheffield and oversee state and federal policy agendas, labor relations, regional partnerships and overall government operations. The longtime Detroit resident is a dedicated family man to his wife, Toi, and their three children, Brian Jr., Nala and Jaden. White said he is “honored” to serve as deputy mayor.
“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,” White said in a statement.
Sheffield’s longtime council deputy stood by her throughout her campaign at various public events and, literally, next to her on stage while she claimed victory in the November election.
Sheffield promises to execute a vision for the city built on the “voices and priorities of the people,” according to a news release. She is continuing to assemble a team of leaders for her administration and will announce them in the upcoming weeks.
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield taps council chief of staff as deputy mayor
Reporting by Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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