Last week, Nassau County Executive-elect Edward P. Mangano named Republican Assemblyman Rob Walker of Hicksville his Chief Deputy Executive and on Monday, Mangano held a press conference to provide an update on the transition process and announce that he appointed Tim Sullivan as Deputy Nassau County Executive for Finance.
“I would like to take this opportunity to report on the transition to date. It has become clear to me that the recount process has prevented the formation of a traditional committee,” Mangano said. “I am foregoing the bureaucracy of a formal committee and will instead call upon individuals and in some cases groups of individuals to review various governmental operations and finances. These volunteers will report directly to me so that I may receive timely updates to pressing issues.”
According to Mangano, Sullivan brings more than 20 years of extensive experience. His prior positions include budget director for the Nassau County Legislature and, most recently, deputy director of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority.
Mangano said that Sullivan will hit the ground running on Jan. 1.
“This transition style reflects the manner in which I will manage Nassau County government. I will start with a streamlined county executive management staff. I intend to forego many managerial appointments as well as those of their assistants. In many cases, I will meet directly with commissioners and department heads to assess operations,” he said. “My approach will be thoughtful, measured and surgical. My goal is to turn our shared values of a smaller, more affordable, government into real results. True reform is on the way.”
Walker, who served as Mangano’s campaign manager, was elected to the 15th Assembly District in a May 2005 special election. Prior, he served as the Town of Oyster Bay’s Deputy Commissioner of Parks and spearheaded the town’s Save Environmental Assets Fund Committee. He also served three years as an assistant to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, where he was director of traffic survey and constituent services.
“My four and a half years … serving the 15th Assembly District and my prior government experience with the Town of Oyster Bay has provided me with considerable experience and, I believe, a unique perspective on the issues that face us,” said Walker.
Of his new position, Walker told Anton Community Newspapers, “I am very excited that County Executive-elect Ed Mangano has chosen me to join his administration as he takes the reign in Nassau County. The job will be filled with many difficulties but with an equal number of opportunities to bring about positive changes for the residents as well as the workforce in the county.”
He added, “It is a privilege and an honor to be asked to help Ed to rebuild Nassau, provide economic opportunities, reduce the tide of onerous property taxes on our residents and work for fiscal stability even in tough economic times. I understand these enormous challenges that are before us and I look forward to meeting those challenges with County Executive Ed Mangano.”
Walker’s new position requires him to resign from his seat in the Assembly. As a result, a special election, set by the governor, must take place. As of press time, it unknown who or when the election will take place but sources say it will most likely be held in March. Whoever wins the special election will have to run again in November when the seat would normally been up.
