LYNN — Mayor-elect Jared Nicholson announced several hires on Thursday, including the selection of Jonathan Thibault as his chief of staff.
Thibault is currently the chief of staff for state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), who endorsed Nicholson for mayor and campaigned for him prior to the Nov. 2 election.
Nicholson also announced that his campaign manager, Jean Michael Fana, will be his administration’s outreach director and Valerie Vong, who was the campaign’s digital director, will be his communications manager.
Meaghen Hamill, chief of staff to outgoing Mayor Thomas M. McGee, will stay on for a two-month period as a senior advisor to complete the transition between the McGee administration and the incoming Nicholson administration.
Faustina Cuevas, the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion officer, will remain in her post under the new administration. She is also the co-chair of the Nicholson Transition Committee and is tasked with advising the incoming administration.
“We are thrilled about the team that is coming together,” said Nicholson. “We have a lot of ideas about how to hit the ground running and this group starts to bring in the skills we will need to make sure that happens.”
As chief of staff, Thibault will be responsible for overseeing and administering daily operations within the mayor’s office, alongside Nicholson. He will also serve as the liaison between the mayor’s office, city departments, and local, state and federal officials.
Thibault was born and raised in Lynn, where he attended Lynn English High School and graduated from Boston University in 2009. He served as an assistant to Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development Executive Director Charles Gaeta and worked as Crighton’s legislative director before his promotion to chief of staff in 2019.
“I believe in Mayor Nicholson’s vision and goals for the city,” said Thibault. “I look forward to working with him, this team, and the departments in City Hall to deliver great results for the residents of Lynn.”
Fana’s role as outreach director will be focused on constituent services and community affairs on behalf of the mayor’s office.
After graduating from Lynn Classical High School, Fana enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant. He served as a trial defense paralegal at Camp Humphreys, South Korea and later was assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Additionally, Fana has recently served as an Army JAG Corps paralegal.
Fana said he is excited to work with Nicholson and hopes to ensure that the incoming administration will put the needs of its constituents first.
“Jared has given me a wonderful opportunity to continue to work directly for the people of Lynn,” said Fana. “Our goal is to make this administration active and responsive to the needs of the people and I’m excited to join the team in supporting that goal.”
As communications director, Vong will be responsible for all methods of communication from the mayor’s office. As the eldest daughter and granddaughter of Khmer refugees, Vong graduated with high marks from Lynn English High School in 2018, was recognized by the National Honor Society, and was an awardee of the President’s Education Program.
She is currently a fourth-year, first-generation college student at Clark University, where she is pursuing a double major in English and environmental science, with concentrations in public policy, environmental policy, and pre-law.
Vong said she plans to bring Nicholson’s vision for the city to fruition and will continue the work she has done during the campaign to make that a reality.
“I had the privilege to work with Jared on the campaign trail,” said Vong. “And throughout the months I served as both an intern and the digital director, I was incredibly moved and inspired by his vision, tenacity, and our shared aim to uplift the city of Lynn through a more equitable approach. I look forward to continuing my work alongside Jared.”
Nicholson’s team will get to work on Jan. 4, one day after Nicholson is sworn in during the city’s inauguration. Nicholson plans to announce more staff members next week.
