Press Release: Mayor Elect Spano Transition Team.

Posted by: wielandheusler on: November 18, 2011

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Mayor-Elect Spano Announces Transition Team

Yonkers Mayor-elect Mike Spano today announced the names of his transition team
today. Spano said the members of the team will meet with City Hall staff during the next several
weeks to recommend organizational and policy initiatives so that Spano can hit the ground
running when he is sworn in on January 1st.

This will be a bipartisan team with both government and community expertise,” said
Spano, “We want to include a variety of viewpoints to get the best possible result.”
Spano said the Transition Team will consist of an executive committee, plus working groups
in the areas of Public Safety, Government Operations, Finance, Economic Development, and
Community Relations. There will also be an Education group that will work with the School
District and Board of Education, in keeping with Spano’s campaign pledge to provide additional
emphasis on improving the city’s schools.

“I wish to thank the commitment of Mayor Amicone, Council President Lesnick, and
Schools Superintendent Pierorazio in particular for their offers of assistance and support as we
move forward with a smooth and productive transition to benefit the people of Yonkers,” said
Spano.

The Executive Committee will be chaired by John Spano, who managed Mike Spano’s
campaign and who is a former State Commissioner of General Services. Symra Brandon, a
former Council member and current Chair of the Yonkers Democratic Committee will serve
as Vice-Chair. Other members are Pauline Galvin, an attorney with a practice in Yonkers
and former Chair of the Yonkers Democratic Party; John Jacono, a former member of the
Yonkers City Council and currently Chairman of the Yonkers Republican Committee who is
also a retired school principal and retired administrator of the New York Psychiatric Institute;
Wilson Terrero, Currently a member of the Yonkers Council representing District Two and a
member of the City’s business community, who was also instrumental in forming the Yonkers
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and has been active in the local retail and real estate business
community; Jim Cavanaugh, former Eastchester Supervisor, former President of the Westchester
Municipal Officials Association, and former President of the Battery Park City Authority under
Governors Pataki, Spitzer and Paterson, and who is currently associated with Empire Strategic

Planning. The Executive Committee will work with and coordinate the other working groups on
the team.

Following are members who have been asked to serve on the Transition Team:

Public Safety:

Jim Brady
Rich Carlson
Ira Goldman
Hope Hollinsworth
Barry McGoey
Keith Olson
Tom Phelan
Leonard G. Spano

Finance:

Stefanie Capasso
Jim Ciliberti
Jim LaPerche
Carl Petrillo
Dennis Robertson
Pete Samaha
TJ Sharkey

Government Operations:

David Alpert
Mike Curti
Joan Gronowski
John Khader
Shelley Mayer
Lou Picani
Dominick Savarese
Wayne Soifer
Geraldine Tummolo
Jim Veneruso

Economic Development:

Alfonso Alvarez
Kevin Cacace
Al Ciufutelli
Bob Flower
Peter Grotto
Deborah Rothberg

Community Relations:

Dr. Jim Bostic
Terri Lucadamo
Warren Murphy
Steve Sansone

Bob Stauf
Ann Vizzini
Larry Wilson

Education:

Mark Baiocco
Kelly Chiarella
Bobbie DiBattista
Bob Ferrito
Pat Puleo
Nader Sayegh
AnnMarie Smith

Spano also announced the creation of a website, MayorMikeSpano.com, through which
interested persons can contact the transition team with suggestions, questions, or submission of
resumes if they wish to be considered for positions in City government.

“Our goal is to use the next six weeks to analyze the present state of government, draw up
a blueprint for the future, and prepare to hit the ground running on January first,” said Spano.