New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's will be surrounded by a Small Band of longtime Aides and Close Loyalists, as she takes Control of the State Government.

Here’s a look at some of her Closest Advisers who will help run New York:

Jeff Lewis: Lewis can be considered Hochul’s Right-Hand Man. He is the New Governor’s Chief-of-Staff, a Position he held in the Office of Lieutenant Governor for the past Five years. He was also Hochul’s Director of External Affairs for nearly Two years before that. Lewis has known Hochul for a Decade. He Managed Campaign Finance Operations for her Successful 2011 Congressional Campaign and worked in her Congressional Office as Legislative Correspondent.

Melissa Bochenski: As Hochul’s Deputy Chief-of-Staff, Bochenski has been seen at Hochul’s side throughout her many Public Appearances. Bochenski, like Hochul a Buffalo Native, first began working for the Governor during her brief tenure in Washington, when she served as then-Rep. Hochul’s Office Manager and Executive Assistant for 18 months.

Joan A. Kesner: Kesner, a fellow Resident of Hamburg, New York, the Buffalo Suburb that Hochul calls Home, is considered One of the New Governor’s Closest Friends, and is the Person who Recruited her into Local Politics in the 1990s. Kesner managed Hochul’s First Campaign for Hamburg Town Board. She also Worked for Hochul in the County Clerk’s Office in Eerie County, served on both her Congressional Transition Teams, and as her Office’s District Manager from June 2011 to March 2012. Kesner is expected to be named the Director of the Governor’s Office in Buffalo.

Jeffrey Pearlman: Pearlman was Hochul’s former Chief-of-Staff and Counsel during her early years as Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2016. For the past Five years, he directed the New York State Authorities Budget Office, an Independent State Entity that provides Oversight to New York’s Public-Benefit Corporations. Pearlman is a Political Operative with Deep ties to Albany, where he was Assistant Counsel to former Gov. David A. Paterson. He spent Six years as Assistant General Counsel to the Senate. It is Not clear what Role he will have in the New Administration.

Marissa Shorenstein: Shorenstein, a former Press Officer for Gov. Paterson and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has Directed Corporate Communications for the New York Jets and served as President of AT&T's New York State Office. Today she is the Director of the Executive Transition Team and is helping Hochul pick Members of her Administration.

Karen Persichilli Keogh: Keogh, among the First Appointments Hochul made this week, is the New Secretary to the Governor, the Highest Unelected Position in the State. The former Hillary Clinton Senior Staff Member, she served for Seven years as Clinton’s New York State Director and 2006 Senate Campaign Manager, Keogh also advised Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. For the past Decade, Keogh worked at JP Morgan Chase, Managing the Firm’s $2 Billion Global Philanthropy Fund. “She did a lot of great work on my staff,” said Sal Albanese, a former City Councilman who Hired Keogh during his Unsuccessful 1992 Congressional Campaign and later brought her on as his Chief-of-Staff. “She was very focused, and my wife said you should consider hiring her because she’s a smart, hard worker. Clearly, she went on to do bigger and better things.”

Elizabeth Fine: Fine is another early Hochul Appointment. She is the New Counsel to the Governor. Fine leaves behind her Position as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Empire State Development Corp., the State’s Public-Private Jobs and Urban Development Organization. Fine has a History in City Politics, having served as General Counsel to the City Council from 2006 to 2014. Before that she Worked for Seven years in the Justice Department and Served as Special Counsel to President Bill Clinton’s White House.

William J. Hochul: No one will be closer to Hochul than her Husband, William J. Hochul, a former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. “When it comes to any issues involving the criminal-justice system, I suspect that her husband might be her best counselor," former Rep. John J. LaFalce said. The First Gentleman's current Role as Delaware North’s General Counsel and Senior Vice President, drew Scrutiny following his wife’s ascension to the Governor’s Chair. Delaware North is a Buffalo-based Casino and Hospitality Conglomerate that relies on Multiple State Agencies to Regulate some of its Contracts and Licenses. Delaware North said Hochul would Recuse himself from any Business involving the State.

Howard Zemsky: Zemsky, a Buffalo Businessman and former Head of the Empire State Development, is valued by Hochul. She’s very close with Howard and his wife, Leslie. They helped raise Money for her 2011 Congressional Race. Both Howard and Leslie flew to Washington for her Swearing-In and were there for the Parties that ensued. Zemsky takes a more benign view of his Relationship with the Governor. “We are first and foremost friends,” Zemsky said, adding political strategy is not his forte. “My most important role is friend.” Zemsky was the Cuomo Administration’s Point Person for Economic Affairs in Western New York, Co-Chairing the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. Zemsky, who is Retired from Government today, is the Managing Partner of the Larkin Development Group, a Buffalo Real Estate Development Firm.

Abby Erwin: Erwin is considered Hochul’s Top Fundraiser. Ervin is a Senior Adviser of Friends for Kathy Hochul, the Governor’s Political Action Committee. Erwin also Serves as Hochul’s Campaign Representative and will Head her Re-Election effort in 2022. Erwin, a Graduate of the University of Illinois, led Fundraising efforts for Elected Officials and Candidates in the Chicago and D.C. areas before joining Hochul in 2018.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY, 12th District): Hochul will have a Close ally in Washington in Maloney, a 14-Term Manhattan Congresswoman who let Hochul Stay in her D.C. Townhouse, for a few Months, when she began her Congressional Term in 2011. Maloney, a longtime City Politician, represents the East Side of Manhattan, Long Island City in Queens, Roosevelt Island, and Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She is a Senior Democrat in the House, where she Chairs the House Oversight Committee. She is my House Member. During my 12 years in Politics, as a Member of the Independence Party, I carried her Petitions, for Her and My Elections, in the 73rd Assemble District, as a County and State Representative. I was also New York City Independence Party Executive Board At-Llarge Member.

Although Hochul’s relationships extend from Buffalo to Washington, a Common Thread will be found among the Individuals surrounding Hochul in Albany. She’s going to try to find People who are Bright, Seasoned, and can hit the Ground Running. She’ll want People who have some of the Personality Traits that she has, an Openness to the Perspectives of Others. She'll want Individuals who realize they’re Not the Source of All Knowledge.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker