EAST PROVIDENCE — After the position had remained vacant for more than eight months, City Manager Richard Brown last week selected Elmer Pina as the city’s new affirmative action officer and welfare director.

Pina, codirector of the East Providence Prevention Coalition, which was formerly known as the Substance Abuse Task Force, was among 5 finalists of about 100 who applied.

Pina, who could not be reached late yesterday afternoon, had been assisting the former director — Onna Moniz-John, who retired last year due to illness — prior to her official departure, and handled many of the responsibilities since then.

“I think all five would have done an excellent job,” Moniz-John said Monday. “All would have been successful, but Elmer has already proved himself.”

Said Brown regarding his choice, “We are underrepresented in African-American males and I am thrilled to have Elmer. He did step in for us over the last few months and he has a great understaning of the community.”

Brown’s news release also mentioned several activities and initiatives Pina coordinated this year and previously. With Moniz-John, he co-facilitated a diversity and sensitivity training program with the state police in September 2005. He organized and hosted the city’s 22nd-annual Martin Luther King celebration five months ago.

He has met with the city’s Central Park Committee to help plan its 16th-annual Neighborhood Day next month and he also volunteered this year with the fundraiser group, Friends of the Soares Family. The family lost nearly all of their belonging during an electrical fire. Pina collected essentials at City Hall, delivered furniture and even wore an apron and chef hat at a pizza fundraiser for the Soares.

He has been employed by the city since May 2005. He is a member of the Rhode Island Affirmative Action Professionals and is fluent in Cape Verdean Creole. He also has a basic understanding of Spanish and Portuguese.

“I think he’s going to be a good asset for us,” Mayor Isadore Ramos said last night. “He has the demeanor, knows the city and will get what needs to done for East Providence.”

Brown said Pina will start in the next couple of weeks after he ties up loose ends from his current job with the prevention coalition.

apina@projo.com