Laura Curran, the county executive-elect, unveiled her 35-person transition team last week consisting of a diverse list of men and women from across the county to help her fill positions in her administration. But some of those choices came under criticism from the county Legislature’s Republican majority.
Namely, her transition team is chaired by Thomas J. Garry, the vice chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Party.
But Curran’s campaign reiterated that the people selected for her transition team would not necessarily be the ones to serve in her administration.
“Everyone working for the County-Executive Elect’s transition team is doing so on a volunteer basis and because they believe in the vision the voters of Nassau County elected her to enact,” said campaign spokesman Philip Shulman. “Laura will be the only person making any hiring decisions and will do so based solely on what an individual knows, not who they know.”
Some GOP legislators drew attention to the inclusion of several donors. On the transition team, 12 members of the transition team donated $41,410 to Curran’s campaign, according to documents filed with the New York State Board of Elections. If donations from the revocable trusts of Kimco Realty Executive Chairman Milton Cooper and Renaissance Property Associates President Kimberly Dey are included, the total contributions climb to more than $116,000. Garry himself donated $3,000 to the campaign and RXR Realty Chairman and CEO Scott Rechler donated $10,000.
“As Laura Curran said repeatedly on the campaign trail, anyone who serves in her administration will not be able to donate to her or solicit donations on her behalf,” Shulman said.
Included on the team are political strategists, nonprofit CEOs, village mayors, religious leaders and Stuart Rabinowitz, president of Hofstra University. Among North Hempstead residents on the team are Robert E. Detor Jr. of Baxter Estates, Sands Point Preserve board Chairman Karli Hagedorn, and Village of Westbury Mayor Peter I. Cavallaro.
Cavallaro, a Republican, said in a statement last week that his first meeting with the team was a good one.
“County Executive-Elect Curran has made it clear she is ready and able to work across municipal lines,” he said. “We’re going to help find the best and brightest who can help facilitate that and ensure our different layers of government can work together and move projects along in an expedient manner.”
Despite the skepticism, Curran said she believed she had made the right selections.
“We have assembled a transition team that will be instrumental in helping me find the best-qualified people to work in my administration and serve Nassau County residents,” she said in a statement. “I am thankful for their service as we look to rebuild our government with qualified and talented individuals who are going help end the culture of corruption and bring a fresh start to Nassau County.”
