Former Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca is no longer employed in Gov. Maura Healey’s administration, ending a roughly three month run as a senior advisor, a position she took on after unexpectedly stepping down from her cabinet-level post.
A spokesperson for Healey confirmed Fiandaca’s employment ended Dec. 31, 2023, three months and two weeks after stepping into the advising role on Sept. 11, 2023, a move Healey said ensured a “smooth transition” on her way out the door.
A message sent Tuesday to a number listed in Fiandaca’s name did not immediately receive a response.
No reason was given for why Fiandaca stepped down as secretary but the August announcement came after revelations the Massachusetts Department of Transportation awarded a no-bid contract worth $900,000 to a company affiliated with a personal associate of hers.
At an unrelated press conference days after the announcement, Fiandaca did not answer multiple questions about why she was leaving and where she planned to go next.
Fiandaca continued to collect her full secretarial salary of $181,722 while serving in the advising role. State payroll records updated through Dec. 16, 2023 show Fiandaca was paid $163,830 so far this year.
A Healey spokesperson said Fiandaca did not have a formal contract for the senior advising role.
Fiandaca served as secretary of transportation for less than nine full months and came to Massachusetts after serving for more than four years as assistant city manager in Austin, Texas. She also worked for former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration.
Healey chose Monica Tibbits-Nutt to serve as acting transportation secretary before officially handing her the role on a permanent basis in November.
