By Guy Smith
April 2, 2007

Ron Thaniel, an Assistant Executive Director with The United States Conference of Mayors since January 2002, has resigned March 30 and has joined Amtrak, based in New York City, as Director of Government Affairs.

Thaniel was the Conference staff person in the area of transportation, telecommunications and homeland security, among other issues.

In announcing his departure, Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran, by a staff memorandum, said Thaniel has “done an outstanding job in leading staff efforts during one of the most perilous periods in our 75-year history. His professionalism and contribution indeed made a difference and as he leaves, I along with the nation’s mayors, salute him and thank him for what he has helped give to our organinzation over the past five years.”

Cochran added that, “Wherever Thaniel goes, his work will always be to have the cities of America foremost in his goals and we congratulate him on this most important post in New York City.”

From 1998 to 2002, Thaniel was the Public Safety and Transportation Policy Aide to Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. In that position, he oversaw large-scale public work and transportation projects including the construction of light rail and commuter rail new starts projects.

Thaniel monitored the restructuring of the Minneapolis fire department, including more than 200 diverse new hires, making the only one in the country to achieve parity in all ranks. He also developed and directed implementation of racial profiling and biased policing policy.

As a senior staff member of the Conference of Mayors, Thaniel in 2006 shared homeland security experience and expertise with the Embassy of Israel and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and in 2004, oversaw logistics and presentation for a delegation of U.S. mayors participating in a United Nations World Urban Forum in Barcelona, Spain, and in 2003 managed U.S. mayoral presentation in the World Association of Mayor Metropolises in Istanbul, Turkey.

Thaniel wrote in his letter of resignation that he experienced five rewarding and most gratifying years with the Conference. His letter to Cochran added: “I am especially proud to have led, with your support and confidence, transportation security policy development and advocacy in the wake of terrorist attacks of September 11.

“From the earliest moments of September 11, the record will tell of the courageous leadership of America’s mayors and The United States Conference of Mayors.”

Thaniel’s wife, Jenny, lives in New York City, where she is studying for a graduate degree at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.