Thursday, December 07, 2006
Head of United Way of LI likely will be tapped to lead the Empire State Development Corp.
Newsday ERROL A. COCKFIELD JR
EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!!!!!! The latest and greatest... Spitzer Appointments or near appointments??? andy
ALBANY - Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer is close to naming Patrick Foye, president and chief executive of United Way of Long Island, as chairman of the state's powerful development agency, the Empire State Development Corp., sources close to Spitzer said yesterday.The governor-elect, during a news conference in the state capital today, also is expected to name Paul Francis, a campaign policy adviser, as budget director. Francis is a former chief financial officer for Ann Taylor Stores and Priceline, and a former investment banker at Merrill Lynch.Foye, who is also a deputy chairman of the Long Island Power Authority's board of trustees, worked with Spitzer at the Manhattan law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in the early 1990s. He lives in Port Washington and serves on the local school board.Foye would replace Charles Gargano, another Long Islander - from Bridgehampton - and a close ally of outgoing Gov. George Pataki. While Gargano, a developer and Pataki's chief fundraiser, came out of the governor's Republican political apparatus, Foye, a Fordham Law graduate, is cut from a different cloth. He is unaffiliated with any party. State Board of Elections records show he's given money to Republicans and Democrats alike, and also the state Conservative Party. Recipients of his donations include Spitzer and Pataki. In 2002, Foye gave $1,000 to Spitzer's gubernatorial opponent, John Faso. So Foye appears to fit Spitzer's pledge that he will make appointments irrespective of party affiliation."What you're seeing in these choices so far are nontraditional kinds of people who don't fit the political mold," said Hank Sheinkopf, a Manhattan-based Democratic political consultant. Francis is a Westchester Democratic activist but has not made a career of government. He will become part of a tight inner circle along with Rich Baum, Spitzer's incoming chief of staff; Darren Dopp, incoming communications director; and David Nocenti, incoming counsel.
Spitzer is also trying to rope Assemb. Thomas P. DiNapoli (D-Great Neck) into his administration as commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, but people close to DiNapoli say he's not interested.DiNapoli, chair of the Assembly's environmental conservation committee, favors an appointment to secretary of state or a promotion to majority leader in the Assembly. He has earned a reputation as a skilled lawmaker who works well with his counterparts in the Republican-led state Senate.DiNapoli, who lost to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi in a primary fight in 2001, also is considering another run for county executive in 2009, when Suozzi, who has said he will not seek a third term, would leave office.
Spitzer is also bringing in new leadership of the state Democratic Party. Upstate activist June O'Neill, Democratic chairwoman of St. Lawrence County, is expected to become chairwoman early next month, replacing Harlem Assemb. Herman "Denny" Farrell, who will concentrate on chairing the Ways and Means Committee.Dave Pollak, a Manhattan banker who leads Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century, a young Democrats group in Manhattan, was named state party co-chair. Pollak will focus on the party's downstate efforts as part of Spitzer's new leadership system.Spitzer is expected to name Edna Ishayik, the campaign's deputy political director, as executive director of the state party. She will replace Frank Hoare, Farrell's longtime adviser.Posts in next administration?
Patrick J. FoyeAge 49 Employment Deputy chairman of Long Island Power Authority since 1995; partner in the Manhattan law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, from 1989 through 1998; president of United Way of Long Island since 2004; vice president of a real estate investment trust, 1998 to 2004.Education Fordham, bachelor's degree in philosophy and history (1978); Fordham Law School (1981).Residence Port Washington, with his wife and three children.
Thomas P. DiNapoli Age 52Employment Democratic assemblyman representing Great Neck since 1986; chairs standing committee on environmental conservation and co-chairs legislative commission on water resource needs of New York State and Long Island; crafted Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act; was youngest person in state to hold public office when he served as trustee of Mineola Board of Education at age 18.Education Hofstra University, bachelor's degree in history; New School University, master's in human resources management.Residence Great Neck
EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!!!!!! The latest and greatest... Spitzer Appointments or near appointments??? andy
ALBANY - Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer is close to naming Patrick Foye, president and chief executive of United Way of Long Island, as chairman of the state's powerful development agency, the Empire State Development Corp., sources close to Spitzer said yesterday.The governor-elect, during a news conference in the state capital today, also is expected to name Paul Francis, a campaign policy adviser, as budget director. Francis is a former chief financial officer for Ann Taylor Stores and Priceline, and a former investment banker at Merrill Lynch.Foye, who is also a deputy chairman of the Long Island Power Authority's board of trustees, worked with Spitzer at the Manhattan law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in the early 1990s. He lives in Port Washington and serves on the local school board.Foye would replace Charles Gargano, another Long Islander - from Bridgehampton - and a close ally of outgoing Gov. George Pataki. While Gargano, a developer and Pataki's chief fundraiser, came out of the governor's Republican political apparatus, Foye, a Fordham Law graduate, is cut from a different cloth. He is unaffiliated with any party. State Board of Elections records show he's given money to Republicans and Democrats alike, and also the state Conservative Party. Recipients of his donations include Spitzer and Pataki. In 2002, Foye gave $1,000 to Spitzer's gubernatorial opponent, John Faso. So Foye appears to fit Spitzer's pledge that he will make appointments irrespective of party affiliation."What you're seeing in these choices so far are nontraditional kinds of people who don't fit the political mold," said Hank Sheinkopf, a Manhattan-based Democratic political consultant. Francis is a Westchester Democratic activist but has not made a career of government. He will become part of a tight inner circle along with Rich Baum, Spitzer's incoming chief of staff; Darren Dopp, incoming communications director; and David Nocenti, incoming counsel.
Spitzer is also trying to rope Assemb. Thomas P. DiNapoli (D-Great Neck) into his administration as commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, but people close to DiNapoli say he's not interested.DiNapoli, chair of the Assembly's environmental conservation committee, favors an appointment to secretary of state or a promotion to majority leader in the Assembly. He has earned a reputation as a skilled lawmaker who works well with his counterparts in the Republican-led state Senate.DiNapoli, who lost to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi in a primary fight in 2001, also is considering another run for county executive in 2009, when Suozzi, who has said he will not seek a third term, would leave office.
Spitzer is also bringing in new leadership of the state Democratic Party. Upstate activist June O'Neill, Democratic chairwoman of St. Lawrence County, is expected to become chairwoman early next month, replacing Harlem Assemb. Herman "Denny" Farrell, who will concentrate on chairing the Ways and Means Committee.Dave Pollak, a Manhattan banker who leads Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century, a young Democrats group in Manhattan, was named state party co-chair. Pollak will focus on the party's downstate efforts as part of Spitzer's new leadership system.Spitzer is expected to name Edna Ishayik, the campaign's deputy political director, as executive director of the state party. She will replace Frank Hoare, Farrell's longtime adviser.Posts in next administration?
Patrick J. FoyeAge 49 Employment Deputy chairman of Long Island Power Authority since 1995; partner in the Manhattan law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, from 1989 through 1998; president of United Way of Long Island since 2004; vice president of a real estate investment trust, 1998 to 2004.Education Fordham, bachelor's degree in philosophy and history (1978); Fordham Law School (1981).Residence Port Washington, with his wife and three children.
Thomas P. DiNapoli Age 52Employment Democratic assemblyman representing Great Neck since 1986; chairs standing committee on environmental conservation and co-chairs legislative commission on water resource needs of New York State and Long Island; crafted Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act; was youngest person in state to hold public office when he served as trustee of Mineola Board of Education at age 18.Education Hofstra University, bachelor's degree in history; New School University, master's in human resources management.Residence Great Neck
