Rochester Public Library
News Release
Mayor Names Year-End Appointments to Replace Retiring
Deputy Mayor and Corporation Counsel; Announces Hires for Two New Positions
(Tues., Sept. 26, 2023) – In the final months of his
second year in office, Mayor Malik D. Evans announced two upcoming staffing
changes and two new additions to his administration.
Deputy
Mayor Patrick Cunningham and Corporation
Counsel Linda Kingsley will retire at the end of December 2023. Both joined
the Evans administration on Jan. 1, 2022, with a commitment to serve for 12
months – and both will have served two full years before retiring.
Cunningham became Deputy Mayor after a successful career in
financial services and retiring as CEO of Manning & Napier in 2016.
“I have been humbled and honored to work alongside Mayor
Evans and the members of his administration,” said Deputy Mayor Cunningham. “I
stayed on beyond the time I originally intended to because I felt compelled to
complete some of the projects we had begun. Mayor Evans is the right person in
the right job at the right time, and he has inspired me and the rest of us in
his administration to give our all to this city.”
Kingsley has enjoyed a long and successful career in law,
including serving as the City’s Corporation Counsel from 1994 to 2005, and
previously as Corporation Counsel in Binghamton, N.Y. Prior to joining Mayor
Evans’ team, Kingsley worked in private practice and taught at Albany Law
School. This week, she will be presented a Lifetime Achievement in Municipal
Law Award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association.
“I want to thank Mayor Evans for giving me the opportunity
to conclude my legal career by once again serving the city in the position that
first brought me to Rochester over 30 years ago,” Kingsley said. “My time here
with Mayor Evans and his team and with our Law Department staff has been
rewarding beyond my expectations. I now look forward to spending more time with
my family and friends while I continue my life here in Rochester.”
“I deeply appreciate the leadership and expertise Deputy
Mayor Cunningham and Corporation Counsel Kingsley have brought to the City over
the past two years,” said Mayor Evans. “Their efforts and accomplishments will
be felt in City Hall and across Rochester for a long time to come.”
The retiring leaders have helped identify and cultivate
talent within City Hall to step into their roles. Starting Jan. 1, 2024,
Michael Burns, currently serving as the City’s Budget Director, will become
Deputy Mayor, and Patrick Beath, currently serving as Deputy Corporation
Counsel, will step into the role of Corporation Counsel.
Burns brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience and
has been the City’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget for more
than 18 months. He also currently serves as an adjunct professor at St. John
Fisher University. Previously, he was Director of Accounting Services for
Regional Transit Service and Vice President of Investor Relations and External
Reporting for Harris Interactive. He received a Rochester Business Journal 2023
Financial Leaders Award, and was recognized with a Forty Under 40 Award in
2006. Burns earned his CPA in 2000 and has a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting
from St. John Fisher College.
“I appreciate Mike’s willingness to step into the role of
Deputy Mayor at the end of this year,” said Mayor Evans. “He has spent the last
year and a half successfully working across City departments and managing
cross-functional teams. He will bring strong and balanced leadership to this
critical operational role.”
Patrick Beath has served as the City’s Deputy Corporation
Counsel since March 2018 and joined as Municipal Attorney in 2015. Previously,
he was Assistant Corporation Counsel in Special Federal Litigation with New
York City’s Law Department. He earned his J.D. from Fordham University School
of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and History from Binghamton
University. Beath has received multiple professional awards including New York
City Law Department Division Chief Award, New York State Bar Association
Tiffany Cup for Trial Advocacy, and Isaac Liberman Public Service Award.
“Patrick will bring a wealth of knowledge and legal
expertise to the position of Corporation Counsel. He is an innovative thinker
with a sharp legal mind, and will represent the City well in all legal
matters,” said Mayor Evans. “I look forward to working with him even more
closely as he steps into the position of Corporation Counsel.”
In addition to these senior leadership changes, Mayor Evans
announced the addition of two new significant appointments that will be crucial
to achieving some of his administration priorities in the coming years. Both
positions were included in the City’s 2023-24 budget, and both will begin
within the next six weeks.
The Mayor has named Frederick Rion as the City’s new
Director of Emergency Management. This high-level operational management and
administrative position will have the responsibility for overseeing the
effective and efficient direction and operation of the City of Rochester’s
Emergency Management System, with a goal of anticipating and lessening the
impact of emergencies. Rion will work in close collaboration with the City’s
Fire, Police, and Emergency Communications Departments, Bureau of
Communications, and others to coordinate disaster and emergency preparation and
response in the City of Rochester.
Rion most recently served as Emergency Manager for SUNY
Brockport, and previously worked for Monroe County, where he served as
Emergency Preparedness Administrator and in other emergency management roles.
He earned Master’s Degrees in Public Administration from SUNY Brockport and in
Social Work from Syracuse University, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
from University of Albany.
In addition, Mayor Evans announced the appointment of Sade
McCallan as Emerging Initiatives Manager. McCallan will be responsible for
coordinating the City’s efforts around homelessness, cannabis, healthy food
accessibility, and other emerging initiatives. She most recently served as
Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office in Waco, Texas, and as Tourism
Manager for Missouri City, Texas. She has a Master of Arts Degree in
Communication from Dallas Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science from Hampton University.
“I am proud of the work my administration has done so far,
and am excited to begin the next two years working with these new senior
leaders to deliver hope and opportunity for Rochester’s residents,” said Mayor
Evans. “There is always more work to be done, and I look forward to continuing
to build a safer and more prosperous Rochester for all.”
# # #
The Administration of Mayor Malik D. Evans strives to create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity for everyone. Guided by the Administration’s Mission, Vision and Values and the principles of the “Rochester 2034” comprehensive plan, City employees are committed to providing exceptional customer service, transparent stewardship, and collaborative leadership to foster a vibrant community that empowers personal, professional and generational growth for all who live, work or play in the city of Rochester.