TRANSITION OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR-ELECT
AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-ELECT
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Christine Anderson
canderson@spitzer2006.com 917.981.2725

  GOVERNOR-ELECT ELIOT SPITZER AND LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR-ELECT DAVID PATERSON ANNOUNCE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS

New York, NY (December 21, 2006) -- Governor-Elect Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant
Governor-Elect David Paterson today announced nominations for Commissioner at
several state agencies, Secretary of State, and additional appointments to
senior staff in the Executive Chamber.       
               
               
 "I'm extremely pleased by the quality of people agreeing to serve in
our administration," Spitzer said. "Each of the individuals announced today is a
leader in his or her field. I know that they will bring a new dynamism to state
government." "This diverse group of professionals reflects New York's
promise for the future," said Lieutenant Governor-Elect David Paterson. 
"We are confident their talents will help us tackle the challenges ahead of us."
Carol Ash is being nominated to
serve as Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Historic
Preservation. Ms. Ash has served as Executive Director of the Palisades
Interstate Park Commission since 1999. Previously, Ms. Ash was State Director of
the Nature Conservancy in New York from 1994 to 1999.  From 1992 to 1994,
she served as Director of the Office of Environmental Policy and Management for
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Ms. Ash became Regional Director
of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 1985 and
continued in this capacity until 1992. Prior to that, she served as a consultant
from 1981 to 1984, a publisher at Soho News from 1979 to 1981, and the Director
of Conservative Programs at the New York State Energy Office from 1975 to 1978.
 Gladys Carrión is being
nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family
Services. Ms. Carrión joined United Way of New York City in 2005 as the Senior
Vice President for Community Investment. Prior to that, she was Executive
Director of Inwood House from 1999 to 2005. From 1995 to 1999, Ms. Carrión
served as Executive Director of Family Dynamics, Inc and in 1994 she was a
Program Officer at the Ford Foundation in the Community Development area. Ms.
Carrión served as Commissioner of the New York City Community Development Agency
from 1990 to 1993. From 1984 to 1988, she worked at the New York State Workers'
Compensation Board in a variety of capacities including General Counsel,
Supervising Law Judge and Senior Law Judge. Ms. Carrión also served as Acting
Executive Director of ASPIRA from 1982 to 1983. She received her B.S. from
Fordham University in 1973 and her J.D. from the New York University School of
Law in 1976. Brian Fischer is
being nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Correctional
Services. Brian Fischer is the Supervising Superintendent of the New York State
Department of Correctional Services, a capacity which he has filled since 1991.
He has also served as  the Superintendent of the Sing Sing Correctional
Facility since 2000. Mr. Fischer was Superintendent both in the Queensboro
Correctional Facility from 1991 to 2000 and in New York City and the Hudson
Valley from 1975 to 1986. Mr. Fischer has filled several other positions
including Director of Support Operations at the New York State Department of
Correctional Services from 1986 to 1991 and as a Parole Officer in the New York
State Addiction Control Commission from 1968 to 1975. Mr. Fischer received a
B.S. in Psychology from Upsala College in 1966 and an M.S. in Guidance and
Counseling from the University of Bridgeport in 1968.   Kumiki Gibson is being nominated to serve as
Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights. Ms. Gibson has
served as Senior Vice President for Administration & Governance Officer and
Counselor to the President at The National Urban League since 2005. From January
2004 to January 2005, Ms. Gibson was Vice President and General Counsel at Johns
Hopkins University. Ms. Gibson became partner at the law firm of Williams &
Connolly in 1997 where she practiced until 2003. She served as Associate Counsel
and then Counsel to Vice President Al Gore from April 1993 to April 1997.
Currently Ms. Gibson serves on the board of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation. She graduated from Harvard University in 1985 and from
Northeastern University School of Law in 1988. David A. Hansell is being nominated to serve as
Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Mr. Hansell
is Chief of Staff at the New York City Human Resources Administration. From 1988
to 1994, he worked in a range of positions at Gay Men's Health Crisis, including
Director of Legal Services and Deputy Director for Government and Public
Affairs. From 1997 to 2001, he was the Associate Commissioner for HIV Services
at the New York City Department of Health. He subsequently served as Associate
Commissioner for Planning and Program Implementation. Mr. Hansell has also been
a consultant on health policy and social services issues to a wide range of
governmental and non-profit organizations. He is a graduate of Haverford College
and Yale Law School. David J.
Swarts is being nominated to serve as
Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Mr. Swarts has served as Clerk
of Erie County since 1987. During this period, he served Erie County in variety
of capacities including Chief Registrar, Clerk of County and Supreme Court,
Agent of the State of New York for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Record
Management Officer and as the Director of the Pistol Permit Office. Mr. Swarts
received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany, where he also
received his M.S. in Social Sciences. Laura Anglin will serve as First Deputy Budget
Director. She was appointed Deputy Comptroller of the Division of Retirement
Services in January 2003 and is responsible for overseeing the administration
and managing the operations of the New York State and Local Retirement
System.  Ms. Anglin's career in public service spans nearly 20 years. 
From 1996-2003 she worked in the New York State Assembly. During that time she
served as Director of Budget Studies for the Assembly Ways and Means Committee
and as First Deputy Fiscal Director for the Committee.  Ms. Anglin has also
held the position of Econometrician in the Department of Taxation and Finance
from 1992-1996 and began her career as an Economist for the Department of
Environmental Conservation. Ms. Anglin holds a B.A. and Masters Degree in
Economics from the State University of New York at Albany.Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez is being nominated to
serve as Secretary of State.  Ms. Cortes-Vazquez is Vice President of
Government & Public Affairs at Cablevision Systems Corporation. Previously,
she served as President of the Hispanic Federation from October 1998 to October
2004. From 1996 to 1998, Ms. Cortes-Vazquez was Chief of Staff for New York
State Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez. Prior to that, Ms. Cortes-Vasquez served as
Executive Director at ASPIRA of New York from 1992 to 1996.  She served as
Director of the Bureau of Program and Resource Development at the NYC Department
of the Aging from August 1979 to May 1992 and Director of the Senior Citizen
Peer Counseling Program at the Experimental and Bilingual Institute from 1976 to
1977. Ms. Cortes-Vasquez graduated from Hunter College in 1975 and received her
M.A. from NYU's Graduate School of Public Administration in 1983. Richard Rifkin
will serve as Special Counsel. Mr. Rifkin has served as Deputy Attorney General
for the State Counsel Division of the Attorney General's Office since 1999. From
1994 to 1999, Mr. Rifkin served as Executive Director of the State Ethics
Commission. From 1979 through 1994, he served in several positions in the
Attorney General's Office, including Counsel to the Attorney General and First
Assistant Attorney General. Mr. Rifkin was admitted to the Bar and entered into
the private practice of law in 1966. From 1970 to 1973, he served as staff
counsel to Assemblyman Leonard Stavinsky. He was appointed Counsel to the Bronx
Borough President in 1973. In 1979, Mr. Rifkin was appointed Deputy First
Assistant Attorney General. In He received his B.A. from Washington and
Jefferson College in 1962 and was awarded an LL.B. degree by Yale Law School in
1965.
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