In a sudden and unexpected departure, Mayor Sheila Dixon?s chief of staff, Otis Rolley III, is resigning to head a new nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the region?s transportation problems.
“We are going to win 10-fold with Otis in this position,” Dixon said in a phone interview this morning, shortly after she announced Rolley?s impending departure in a statement.
“With all the challenges we face with our transportation needs, I think this is a great opportunity for him that will benefit us,” she said, adding that she was pleased with Rolley?s tenure.
“He?s done a great job.”
The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance will be a privately funded nonprofit advocacy group seeking to coordinate efforts to improve Baltimore area transportation, Rolley said. He will serve as the new organization?s president and chief executive officer.
“Our main goal is to advocate for a world-class transportation system in the central Maryland, including Baltimore.”
“It?s about promoting economic development through the highways and byways of our transit system,” he said.
Rolley said the new position will utilize his skills well.
“My training is in economic development and planning, so the opportunity to change our reality here in Baltimore in terms of the transportation system is very exciting.”
Rolley also said he enjoyed working with Dixon.
“I loved working at City Hall and working with Mayor Dixon,” he said. “The mayor has kicked butt over the last 10 months,” he said of his tenure.
Prior to joining her administration, Rolley served as director of the city?s Planning Department under then-Mayor Martin O?Malley from 2003 and as a deputy commissioner of the housing department from 2001-2003.
Rolley was appointed the mayor?s chief of staff in January after serving on her transition team.
He will take over CMTA in mid-November.
