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# Gounardes Announces His Transition Team
- URL: https://bklyner.com/gounardes-announces-his-transition-team/
- Published: 2018-11-27T20:58:55.000Z
- Updated: 2018-11-27T22:25:50.000Z
- Author: Kadia Goba
- Tags: bath beach, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, manhattan beach, Marine Park, mill basin, Nonsponsored, Sunset Park, #wp

![](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/23737670_1074506009318599_9071180399412229081_o-800x800.jpg)

via FB

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](/bensonhurst-g-o-p-battles-it-out-in-court-bensonhurst/), a longtime Republican adversary of Golden.

Former co-worker Stefan Ringel, who works as the communications director for [Borough President Eric Adams](/borough-president-launches-campaign-to-rename-brooklyn-building-for-ruth-bader-ginsburg/) 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](https://www.kingscountypolitics.com/nancy-tong-community-trailblazer-brooklyns-first-asian-american-lawmaker/?ref=bklyner.com) 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](http://www.urbanresearchmaps.org/nystatelegislature/map.html?ref=bklyner.com). That number is expected to grow considerably in the 2020 census.

During their final debate, the [two squared off at a debate](https://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2018/45/br-golden-gounardes-asian-debate-2018-11-02-bk.html?ref=bklyner.com) 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](/the-end-of-an-era-as-state-senator-marty-golden-concedes-the-election/) 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