Mayor of New Bedford hires former Montigny aide as chief of staff

By AARON NICODEMUS, Standard-Times staff writer

NEW BEDFORD — Mayor Scott W. Lang has finally hired a chief of staff, more than a year after he took office.
William Burns, the longtime chief of staff for state Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny, has been hired by the mayor as his chief of staff and administrative assistant. He will be paid a salary of $78,808 per year, and start work today.

"I am very pleased that Bill has decided to lend us his considerable talents in moving New Bedford forward," Mayor Lang said in a prepared statement. "Bill brings years of experience in public service and government relations to the position of chief of staff and administrative assistant. He understands the importance of the job and will be an integral part of advancing our goal of making New Bedford a better place to live, work and raise a family."

Mr. Burns, a New Bedford resident, was Sen. Montigny's chief of staff for 14 years, including the four years when Sen. Montigny was chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Mayor Lang said that he had been trying to lure Mr. Burns to the city since last February, when he spoke with Sen. Montigny while the two politicians were in Arkansas to pay their respects to the family of a police officer killed by New Bedford resident Jacob Robida following the attacks at Puzzles Lounge.

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