Councilman James Taylor

Councilman James Taylor represents Ward 8 of the City of Providence, which includes the Elmwood, South Elmwood, Reservoir Triangle, and the West End neighborhoods.

Taylor has been a devoted member of the community for many years and served on the Providence Fire Department for 28 years. Taylor worked as a firefighter and EMT for Ladder Company 5 and Engine Company 10. He was also the Chief’s Aid of the 3rd Battalion. In 1999, Taylor became the Dispatcher Lieutenant and then the Dispatcher Captain in 2002.

Councilman Taylor served as the Chief of Communications for the Providence Fire Department from 2006 to 2012 and completed his career serving as the administrative aide to the chief of the department from 2012-2016.

A Rhode Island native, Councilman Taylor studied at Providence College, where he earned an associate degree in Fire Sciences.

He helped create the Special Committee on Public Safety, which he also chairs, along with the Rules Committee. Taylor currently serves as a member of the Committee on Finance as well.

Councilman Taylor is a single father of two grown sons, David and Matthew. As an active community member, he coached little league baseball and went on to become the Vice President and eventually the President of the Elmwood Little League. During his time as president, he was responsible for 45 little league teams, with 800 children from the ages of 5-16. He is proudly responsible for the installation of the first set of floodlights on the Major League Field.