Cuomo names Bronxville’s William Mulrow top aide

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has replaced top aide Larry Schwartz with Bronxville resident William Mulrow, who in 1990 served as senior adviser to Gov. Mario Cuomo”™s re-election campaign.

Schwartz was the Westchester County deputy executive under Andy Spano before being asked to join then-Gov. David Paterson”™s team as secretary in February 2009. He was the first secretary in recent history to transition in that post from one governor to the next. He is leaving to join the private sector.

Cuomo made the announcement Sunday along with a number of other changes in top administrative posts.

William Mulrow

Mulrow, 57, has worked for a long time in the financial and political sectors. After graduating from Yale University in 1978, he was appointed a New York City Urban Fellow. What followed was a number of positions with financial companies augmented by positions in government. Most recently Mulrow was a senior managing director at Blackstone Group, the world”™s largest alternative asset manager, based in New York City.

Previously, Mulrow held positions at Citigroup Global Capital Markets Inc., Paladin Capital Group and Gabelli Asset Management, now GAMCO Investors in Rye. He was chairman of the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency from 1999-2001. Mulrow lost the 2002 Democratic primary for state comptroller against Alan Hevesi.

In state government, Mulrow was Cuomo”™s appointee as the chairman of the New York State Housing Finance Agency and the State of New York Mortgage Agency.

At the Thruway Authority, Robert Megna has been appointed acting executive director replacing Thomas Madison, who resigned last month. Megna has served as budget director for the state Division of the Budget since 2009.

Madison along with Thruway Authority CFO John Bryan resigned at the end of December amid controversy and an investigation by the state Inspector General”™s Office. Authority Chairman Howard Millstein also resigned in December. The authority is in the hot seat for, among other things, how the new Tappan Zee Bridge will be financed. The $4 billion cost for the bridge places it as the largest infrastructure project in the state.

Megna will be replaced as budget director by Mary Beth Labate, who served as first deputy budget director since 2012.

Other administrative changes and appointments include:

  • Patricia Gatling has been appointed deputy secretary for civil rights.
  • Linda Lacewell has been appointed counselor to the governor.
  • Melissa DeRosa has been appointed director of communications and strategic adviser to the governor.
  • John P.L. Kelly has been appointed press secretary.
  • Rick Cotton has been appointed special counsel for interagency initiatives.
  • Beth DeFalco has been appointed deputy director of communications for transportation.
  • Frank Sobrino has been appointed deputy director of communications for New York City.
  • Matthew J. Millea has been appointed deputy director of operations for administration.
  • Tracie M. Gardner has been appointed assistant secretary of health.
  • Kamilah Smith has been appointed assistant secretary of homeland security.
  • Kisha Santiago-Martinez has been appointed assistant secretary for housing.
  • Joseph Rabito has been appointed deputy director of state operations for programs.

In a statement on the changes, Cuomo said, “New ideas and talent are critical to innovation and success. This team will build on the extraordinary progress made over the last four years by bringing experience, energy and fresh perspectives to the table. This is an incredibly accomplished and dedicated group of individuals, and I am proud to welcome them to their new roles. Together we will continue moving New York state forward.”