Antonio M. Prado has been appointed to the position of Director of Communications for New Castle County Government, effective May 13.
Prado, 41, of Newark, has nearly 13 years of experience with weekly and daily newspapers. He has most recently been a reporter for the Hockessin Community News, where he has covered New Castle County Council and the County Executive.
Prado will act as the media representative and liaison for New Castle County Executive Thomas P. Gordon and Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi.
Grimaldi said Prado was hired after a national search that yielded about 100 applications, which were narrowed down to a pool of roughly 10 interviews.
Prado will report to Gordon and Grimaldi. The appointed position, which serves at the pleasure of the county executive, pays $106,899 per year.
Prado was hired for his superior writing skills and passion, Grimaldi said.
“That was the main driver,” he said. “I think he’s a phenomenal writer, who understands the isues. There’s a shortage of great writers. Antonio really stood out.”
Grimaldi said the fact that Prado was from the Wilmington Hispanic enclave of Hilltop on the Westside was a bonus and would contribute to Gordon’s commitment to having a, diverse executive office team which is representative of the community it serves. Prado’s father, the late Jesus M. Prado, was one of the founding members of the Latin American Community Center and its first board president. His mother, Maria C. Prado, is nearing retirement as a Wilmington parking officer.
Prado’s appointment as Grimaldi and Gordon have endured a public relations challenge over an alleged fight involving Grimaldi at a Wilmington restaurant.
