Categories: New York State
02.06.2015
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced new appointments to his administration including Kisha Santiago-Martinez as Assistant Secretary for Housing.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced new appointments to his administration on January 11, 2015, stating "this team will build on the extraordinary progress made over the last four years by bringing experience, energy and fresh perspectives to the table."
Bill Mulrow was appointed Secretary to the Governor. He succeeds Lawrence Schwartz, who departed the administration for the private sector. Most recently Mr. Mulrow was a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, an alternative asset manager. Mr. Mulrow also served in numerous public positions throughout his career, including as Governor Cuomo's appointee as the Chairman of the New York State Housing Finance Agency and the State of New York Mortgage Agency.
Mary Beth Labate was appointed Budget Director for the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB). Since 2012, Ms. Labate has served as First Deputy Budget Director for DOB, where she negotiated with the New York State legislature on a variety of budget and policy-related issues. Ms. Labate has been directly involved in a number of the administration's fiscal initiatives, including maintaining State spending to two percent, reforming the Medicaid program to dramatically limit growth, and the developing and advocating for $60 billion in federal aid in response to Superstorm Sandy.
Andrew S. Kennedy was appointed Deputy Director of State Operations for Policy. Previously, Mr. Kennedy served as the Governor's Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, coordinating the development and management of the State's economic development and housing efforts. Prior to joining the Governor's staff, Mr. Kennedy worked for more than a decade at the New York State Division of Budget and for the New York State Assembly.
Joseph Rabito was appointed Deputy Director of State Operations for Programs. In February 2011, Governor Cuomo appointed Mr. Rabito as Executive Deputy Commissioner at the New York State Office of General Services (OGS). Before joining OGS, Mr. Rabito held the titles of Deputy Commissioner at New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) and President of the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation. Prior to his appointment at HCR, Mr. Rabito served as Commissioner of Development & Planning for the City of Albany, and in the federal government for then-Secretary Andrew Cuomo at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Tracie M. Gardner was appointed Assistant Secretary of Health. Ms. Gardner previously served as Co-Director of Policy for the Legal Action Center where she conducted and coordinated the Center's New York State public policy advocacy in the areas of substance use disorders, criminal justice and HIV/AIDS.
Kisha Santiago-Martinez was appointed Assistant Secretary for Housing. She previously served as Assistant Commissioner at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, managing the Budget Service Unit and establishing the Office of Budget and Operational Strategic Management. Prior to joining state government through the Empire Fellowship program, she served as Vice President and Senior Project Manager at Rosenberg Housing Group.
The Network congratulates all the new appointees and we look forward to a fruitful working relationship with our partners in the New York State government.