Speculation persisted last week about the possible appointment of Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman to a prominent post in the administration of Governor-Elect Andrew Cuomo.
But Kaiman continued to deny that he was on the verge of taking a job with Cuomo, or that such a move had even been discussed.
“I have a good relationship with the next governor,” Kaiman said.
He said he hasn’t had any conversations with Cuomo about taking a position in the new administration. But he didn’t dismiss the idea of entertaining such a move if Cuomo called on him.
“I think I’d discuss it with my wife,” he quipped.
The attendant speculation about Kaiman’s possible accession to a post with Cuomo centers on Nassau County legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) aspiring to succeed Kaiman as town supervisor, according to a source close to the Nassau County Legislature.
Former Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman has also been mentioned prominently as a possible candidate for town supervisor.
Cuomo has already named prominent Long Island figures to key posts in the areas of energy, environment, public safety, economic development and labor.
Last week, Citizens for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito and Robert Catell, chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University to the 25-member Environment and Energy Recreation Committee.
Cuomo also named Michael Balboni, a former state senator and former deputy secretary for public safety, Congressman Peter King (NY-3rd CD) and state Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood) to the public safety committee.
Cuomo had already filled his Committee on Economic Development and Labor with Long Island Association President Kevin Law, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and New York State Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).
