PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Gov. Dan McKee has named former R.I. Senate Majority Leader Daniel Connors, who has Cumberland roots and a checkered history in state government, to serve as Rhode Island’s interim housing secretary.

Connors, 48, will replace Stefan Pryor, who stepped down Wednesday for a job in the private sector after being housing secretary for a year and a half. Connors had been serving as the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services deputy director since McKee hired him last year .

Connors had been making $184,291 at EOHHS. He will see about a 30% increase and make $238,597 while serving as interim housing secretary, according to state officials.

“With more than 15 years of experience across Rhode Island state government, Mr. Connors is well-positioned to provide transitional support during this time,” McKee spokesperson Andrea Palagi said in a statement. “He is not being considered for the permanent position and will return to his role at EOHHS at the end of this process.”

The McKee administration is conducting a broader search to fill the job, which already has been held by two people since lawmakers started creating the R.I. Housing Department in 2021. Connors represented McKee’s hometown of Cumberland in the state Senate from 1996 to 2010, rising to the rank of majority leader.

He declined to seek re-election at the time and his old seat is currently held by Sen. Ryan Pearson, who now also serves as majority leader. Connors later worked as former Gov. Gina Raimondo’s senior adviser for about eight months until Narragansett police arrested him on July 8, 2020, after seeing him drive in and out of an emergency breakdown lane.

Police at the time said his breath smelled like alcohol and he had a cooler with beer in the passenger’s seat. He told the arresting officer, “What can I do to make this go away? I work in the governor’s office,” according to a police report.

Court records show he was found guilty of refusing to submit a chemical test. He was sentenced to attend an alcohol education program, perform 10 hours of community service and lose his license for 30 days. McKee officials argued he’d been rehabilitated when he was re-hired to state government last spring.

“We believe that Mr. Connors has since accepted responsibility, dealt with the consequences and worked to get himself to a better place,” McKee spokesperson Olivia DaRocha said at the time.

It’s unclear how long Connors will serve at the helm of housing.

“Understanding the urgency in filling this important role, the governor’s office will be conducting interviews with local candidates for the permanent secretary position over the coming weeks,” Palagi said.

“A longer-term national search may be initiated if the local interviews do not produce a qualified candidate,” she added.

Eli Sherman ( esherman@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook .

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