Another major departure from the White House occurred on Monday, as Stephen Benjamin, the mayor of Columbia, South Carolina was named as Keisha Bottoms' replacement.
As the new head of the Biden administration's communications team, Benjamin will be responsible for communicating the president's agenda to the public. He joins a long list of former mayors who have held these positions, including Bottoms, Landrieu, Walsh, and Buttigieg.
Benjamin, who has been the mayor of Columbia for three terms, is a well-known public servant who has served the state of South Carolina for more than two decades. He also served as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors. In a statement, Biden praised Benjamin's "deep relationships" with communities across the nation.
As the mayor of Columbia, Benjamin focused on the development of the city's Main Street and job creation. He also maintained a diverse and friendly law enforcement department. He has a deep understanding of the expectations of the American people.
Keisha Bottoms, who was one of the short-list candidates to be Joe Biden's running mate next year, is stepping down from the administration. She has been serving as the interim director of the White House's communications team. She replaced former Congressman Cedric Richmond, who left the White House earlier this year.
The departure of Bottoms comes on the heels of other high-ranking staff members in the White House. Some of these include Ron Klain, the former chief of staff, and Jeff Zients, who was appointed as the new head of COVID-19. Brian Deese, the former head of the National Economic Council, was also replaced by Lael Brainard, who was the vice-chairwoman of the Federal Reserve.
According to Biden, Bottoms has been instrumental in keeping the president's message about the importance of equity at the center of his administration's agenda. She has also been serving as a valuable advisor to him. In a statement released by the White House, Biden thanked her for her service and said that he was grateful for her achievements.
One of the main factors that Biden relied on during his successful run for the presidency was the support from the African-American community. With Benjamin as his new communications director, he could be a valuable asset as he prepares for his reelection campaign.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Washington Examiner
