Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker loses a top aide less than a year into her term

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Less than year into her term, Mayor Cherelle Parker has already lost a key member of her top staff. Deputy Mayor Aren Platt is leaving the administration.

Platt is one of the mayor’s longest-serving associates. He worked with her when she was a state representative, helped her get elected to City Council in 2015 and led her mayoral campaign. He was one of the staffers Parker referred to as “ the big three ” in her administration — the people she consults on all major decisions.

He was in charge of planning and strategic initiatives. The mayor’s office says that Deputy Managing Director Vanessa Garrett Harley will move into the deputy mayor’s role but with a slightly different portfolio that includes “social impact.”

Administration sources say the departure is completely harmonious and due in large part to the long hours that take Platt away from his family. Platt declined to comment on what he’ll do next but said he’ll continue to work with the mayor in some capacity.

His resignation takes effect Oct. 25.