Gounardes Announces His Transition Team
BAY RIDGE — Senator-elect Andrew Gounardes introduced his transition team today beating out his City Councilman Justin Brannan’s 37-person roll call last year with a total of 54 names.
Gounardes’ team is a mix of lawmakers, legislative staffers, community leaders, activists, residents and attorneys from multiple political Party groups including Republicans and members of the Reform Party. The span reaches across the district which encompasses Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend and parts of Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park and Midwood.
“As we begin the next chapter of this journey, I have assembled a broad coalition to help navigate a smooth transition with Senator Golden, provide counsel on hiring the very best staff, and begin setting up our district and Albany offices,” said Gounardes.
District Leader Tori Kelly, will chair the advisory group. Gounardes would not confirm rumors of Kelly transitioning into a chief-of-staff role in January.
Brannan, his predecessor Vincent Gentile and Assemblymember Peter Abbate, who publicly supported Gounardes’ bid against outgoing State Sen. Marty Golden, made the list. As did Craig Eaton, a longtime Republican adversary of Golden.
Former co-worker Stefan Ringel, who works as the communications director for Borough President Eric Adams will also join the lineup. The two have worked together under the beep for four years and consider each other “brothers,” according to Ringel who said he is “humbled to be asked and honored to serve.”
District Leader Nancy Tong who ran against Brannan during last year’s city council race also made the list. Tong is a figure in Bensonhurst where most of the growing Asian-born population lives. According to CUNY, in 2010, Asian-Americans were the second largest ethnicity in the 22nd senatorial district at 22 percent of the population. That number is expected to grow considerably in the 2020 census.
During their final debate, the two squared off at a debate sponsored by the United Association of Brooklyn.
Gounardes narrowly defeated eight-term lawmaker Golden after a contentious campaign battle. The outgoing senator conceded Monday, November 19 after a near-two-week long ballot tally which remains unconfirmed by the city’s Board of Elections.
“I look forward to our teams working closely together during the coming weeks to ensure continuity of services for our constituents and I am excited about the work we are setting out to accomplish,” Gounardes added.
Assemblyman Peter Abbate
Mohammed Al-Sawaeer
Debbie Almontaser
District Leader Joseph Bova
Councilman Justin Brannan
Jay Brown
Vanessa Brown
Robert Capano
Charles Capetenakis
Aaron Carr
Irene Chu
Mary Anne Cino
Bruno Codispoti
Michael Decillis
Ellen Driesen
Hon. Craig Eaton
Somia El-Rowmeim
Hon. Lew Fidler
Hon. Vincent Gentile
Alex Gleason
Kenny Guan
Mark Hanna
Allison Hirsh
Reem Jafar
Ramses Joudeh
Scott Klein
Louie Liu
Ryan Lynch
Councilman Alan Maisel
Hon. Lori Maslow
Eric McClure
Chris McCreight
Josh Melhman
Sunny Mui
Gina Napolitano
Kristen Pettit
Stephen Pickering
Dean Rasinya
Marvin Reiskin
Stefan Ringel
Shea Rubinstein
Kayla Santosuosso
Carlo Scissura
Courtney Scott
Amir Shani
Dorothy Siegel
Tara Siringo
Eugene Strupinsky
Sam Sutton
Karen Tadross
Honorable Nancy Tong
Stephanie Wong
Kathy Wylde
Irene Xanthadoukis