Harvard Kennedy School Professor Tapped for NYC Post

Harvard Kennedy School Professor Stephen Goldsmith has been tapped for the position of New York City’s Deputy Mayor of Operations, the city’s second in command, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Friday.

Goldsmith, a moderate Republican who served as an advisor to President George W. Bush during his 2000 presidential campaign, is known for his innovative approaches to city government during his tenure as mayor of Indianapolis from 1992 to 1999.

“In Steve Goldsmith, we have found someone who—perhaps better than anyone else in the nation—understands the power of innovation,” Bloomberg said in a press release Friday. “Lots of people talk about ‘reinventing government’—Steve Goldsmith has actually done it.”

As deputy mayor, Goldsmith will be in charge of about a dozen different departments—including the Fire and Police Departments and the Office of Management and Budget.

Bloomberg’s choice of an outsider is seen as representative of his third term shake-up, but Goldsmith said he is committed to learning about the distinctive culture and challenges of New York City in the coming weeks. Goldsmith added that his experiences as mayor of Indianapolis will help him in his new position, despite the different challenges each city faces.

“The issues of public management, how to pick up the trash in the best way, how to clean water, are common issues,” Goldsmith said.

Kennedy School Lecturer Robert Behn said that Goldsmith will be able to apply his experiences in Indianapolis and at Harvard to New York City’s unique challenges, but he added he is “worried Goldsmith will become a Yankees fan.”

Goldsmith’s most recent book, “The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good,” featured the work of the Bloomberg administration. Goldsmith said that even before the job offer, he had noted the “environment for innovation” Bloomberg cultivated, which left room for risk taking and significant performance management efforts.

While Goldsmith said he was surprised by Bloomberg’s offer, he said his choice to return to public service fits with the mission of the Kennedy School.

Kennedy School Dean David T. Ellwood ’75 called Goldsmith’s appointment a “brilliant move,” and added that Goldsmith’s research work on technology, privatization in government, and other innovative policies will allow him to bring change to New York City management.

This new connection between the Kennedy School and New York City government will create more opportunities for Harvard students, according to Ellwood, who added that the timeline for Goldsmith’s departure is still uncertain despite his June 1 start date.

—Staff writer Stephanie B. Garlock can be reached at sgarlock@college.harvard.edu.