Rising Stars 40 under 40
Jeanine Johnson
Chief of Staff, Assembly Member Keith Wright
Age: 31
“I wasn’t terribly politically savvy,” says Jeanine Johnson, on her entry into the political world. “My parents thought I should get involved.”
And so at age 14, Johnson, a native of Harlem, found herself working as an intern for long-serving Assembly Member Denny Farrell. A letter of recommendation from Farrell has opened a multitude of doors for her since then.
In college, she got involved in student government. Then, after law school, she worked for Assembly Members Crystal Peoples and Nick Perry, eventually landing in the office of Keith Wright, where she rose to become his chief of staff.
After Wright took over the position of Democratic chair for Manhattan from Farrell, Johnson added the role of party law chair to her resumé. She is the first woman to hold that spot.
“My whole experience with Keith has been phenomenal,” she said. “I never would have foreseen him becoming county leader.”
Johnson said she gets a secret thrill out of drafting legislation, such as the domestic workers’ bill of rights or a bill that creates savings for homeless-shelter residents.
“To be able to actually create a law that doesn’t create litigation,” she said. “A lot of law doesn’t take into consideration how an attorney is going to use it.”
How did past jobs to get you where you are now?
As soon as I got out of law school, I went right into the Legislature. This has been my only career.
What will your business card say in five years?
Congressional Chief of Staff
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
JAG lieutenant
What is your spirit animal?
To me, a horse represents a degree of freedom, individuality, allegiance to a pack, strength. And grace.
Ryan Whalen
Chief of Staff, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson
Age: 29
Years of studying urban planning and the built environment may not have prepared Ryan Whalen for his current career as chief of staff to Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, but it certainly gave the Boston native a unique perspective on the city in which he now lives and serves. Bloomberg’s development strategy, for example, is one that Whalen greatly admires.
“The mayor’s ability to see the future of New York is pretty incredible,” he said.
Before joining Team Bloomberg, first as a campaign aide, then as Wolfson’s right-hand man, Whalen got an internship in ex-Rep. Dick Gephardt’s office, even though he “wasn’t really looking to get into politics.”
Even after joining Bloomberg’s campaign in 2005, working in field operation, Whalen still was not convinced politics was a good fit for him. Despite his reservations, he took a position with Sen. Chuck Schumer, traveling to each of the state’s 62 counties as the senator’s body man.
“It was a crash course in New York politics,” he said. “Except the crash course lasted two years.”
The newly converted Whalen then returned to the mayor’s orbit, joining his campaign in 2009, working directly with Wolfson and campaign manager Bradley Tusk. After Bloomberg’s victory, he was offered a position in Wolfson’s office. Though involved in several different projects at once, Whalen says he still sees things through the lens of an urban planner.
“Move past the old uses in a balanced way,” he said, “that’s incredibly challenging.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
They’re all additives. Without one, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What will your business card say in five years?
Shooting Guard for the Boston Celtics
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Probably an urban planner.
What is your spirit animal?
Boston terrier
Rachel Mann
Chief Operating Officer, The Advance Group
Age: 34
The Advance Group creates events, writes ads, develops political commercials—in other words, the bread and butter of successful ground campaigns. The group’s COO, Bronx native Rachel Mann, has been intertwined with politics for more than a decade, ever since she received a full-time internship to work on Mark Green’s 1993 campaign for public advocate.
“I had never done anything like it before, but I jumped in with both feet,” she recalled.
She was still in high school, taking time off to work for the campaign. While attending college at Antioch in Yellow Springs, she worked for the Advance Group, and after graduating she found herself back working for Green, this time as the deputy finance director of his 1998 U.S. Senate primary campaign.
“I was lucky enough on that campaign to be involved in every aspect, from focus groups to fundraising to political strategy,” she said. “I just got hooked.”
That multifaceted experience has helped her craft media and consulting campaigns for the Advance Group, which has run successful ad campaigns for State Sen. Diane Savino, the Working Families Party and multiple labor groups.
How did past jobs get you to where you are today?
I think that because of my experience on every level of Mark’s campaign in 1993, I was able to take the skills and experiences and parlay them into event work.
What will your business card say in five years?
I’m hoping it will say “President of Advance Group International,” located in some warm climate.
If you weren’t involved in politics, what would you be doing?
In my alternate career dream, I would open up a specialty bookstore. I would sell books of every genre, but my salespeople would be really knowledgeable based on what books you’ve bought before.
What is your spirit animal?
A cat. It seems to me that they have the best life. They lie around in the sun, someone feeds them.
Ademola Oyefeso
Legislative and Political Director, RWDSU
Age: 33
Ademola Oyefeso just became a father a few weeks ago. But when asked whether he hoped his son would join the labor movement in the future, Oyefeso laughed.
“He should be better than his dad,” he said.
Oyefeso is carrying on the union household tradition: both of his own parents were union members.
“The movement was something that appealed to me,” he said.
He was a special assistant at the Transit Workers Union, then a legislative director at the Working Families Party. Now at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Oyefeso is plenty busy, waging the campaign for a living wage and serving on the comptroller’s taskforce on public benefit agreements, among other tasks.
He will not say, though, whether he has ambitions to go national.
“I’m focused on what I’m doing now,” he said. “I have a very demanding job.”
How did past jobs get to you where you are now?
They allowed me to get to know New York politics and labor from different angles. I got to see from all angles, and that made this current job possible.
What will your business card say in five years?
Fighter for New York and Great Dad
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d be a TV executive. I love TV. Boardwalk Empire? Very excited.
What is your spirit animal?
Bear.
Maggie Haberman
Reporter, Politico
Age: 36
Maggie Haberman made waves this spring when she left her job at the New York Post to mine scoops for Politico.
She is still getting used to the 24-hour news cycle of blogging, all while busy with her other full-time job as the mother of two small children, and a third about a month away.
Even though reporting seems like the inevitable career choice for a woman whose father is the inimitable New York Times reporter Clyde Haberman, Maggie says she fell into it “sort of by accident.”
“I was just trying to figure out what to do next after I graduated from Sarah Lawrence,” she said of her first job at the Post.
After working for a decade at the Post, she left to work at the New York Daily News, then returned.
The accidental reporter has broken news of Eliot Spitzer’s possible political comeback and Caroline Kennedy’s dropping out of the U.S. Senate race.
In her free time, when she has it, she is an avid reader. Most recent book? “Cover to cover, I’d say Game Change,” she said.
How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
I took a copy job at The Post. I started there in 1996.
What will your business card say in five years?
Maggie Haberman, Political Reporter
If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
Honestly, if I wasn’t covering politics, I would be writing something about kids and development. My son has been an adventure, but he’s a pretty great adventure.
What is your spirit animal?
A tiger: I have a lot of energy.
Kristin Misner
Chief of Staff, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs
Age: 31
Kristin Misner is a little unsure what best prepared her for her job in the Bloomberg administration: working as a paralegal for Skadden Arps for 80 hours a week or as a volunteer teacher for Buddhist monks in Thailand.
Working for the law firm, she said, helped set her up for her current job as chief of staff for Linda Gibbs, the deputy mayor for health and human services. The monks, though, gave her an entirely different skill set.
“They definitely taught me how to manage stress,” Misner said, “which has been a very helpful trait while working at City Hall.”
While at the College of the Holy Cross, Misner helped create a multicultural peer education program, which she says led to an intense interest in developing programs that provide services for needy people. Working for the Bloomberg administration has done nothing but feed that desire.
For instance, Misner said she recently helped make the decision to relocate an intake center for homeless families in the Bronx. The big picture was how to better serve down-on-their-luck families. But the small impediment, such as where to locate the center, was something she took great care in solving.
“It can be so hard to get good services,” she said, “that sometimes breaking down the barriers can be the most important thing.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
My experience creating multicultural peer education programs fed my passion to effectuate change.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Professional Do–Gooder,” or “Executive Director” of a non-profit.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Working for a not-for-profit, or trying to write a novel.
What is your spirit animal?
Bengal tiger: they look very impressive but unassuming.
Michael DeLoach
Deputy Director at the Healthcare Education Project/organizer for SEIU 1199
Age: 29
Michael DeLoach’s day job is at the Healthcare Education Project, a joint venture between 1199 and the Greater Hospital Association of New York that was created to lobby for health care funding.
But DeLoach says where he truly excels is in the field, most recently helping lead 1199’s organizing efforts for State Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s winning attorney-general primary campaign.
“I love campaigns because they’re very competitive,” he said. “I love the adrenaline of it.”
A protégé of now-White House political director Patrick Gaspard, DeLoach coordinated everything from the union’s mailings, to phone banking, to the GOTV operation—all of which helped Schneiderman ride a progressive wave to his narrow victory over four other candidates.
DeLoach has also worked for the Senate Demorcats, helping Darrel Aubertine win his hard-fought special-election victory that put them one step closer to the eventual majority. He also ran Cy Vance’s successful 2009 Manhattan DA campaign.
DeLoach has also been on the government side of things, joining the Paterson administration as an assistant to top advisor Charles O’Bryne, who moved up to be secretary to the governor after Eliot Spitzer’s 2008 resignation.
DeLoach said the situation suited the skill set he had built up working on campaigns.
“What I do best is build a cohesive team and coalition of supporters,” he said. “When Eliot left, there were all these new people and all these holdovers, and what we tried to do was build a bridge between the two.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Working with Patrick Gaspard, Jennifer Cunningham and Charles O’Byrne, I learned to build a cohesive team from the masters.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Partner at Triple Crown Consulting.” [An as-yet created venture joked about by DeLoach and friends.]
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Growing up, I thought I was going to be an architect. I would love to design and develop affordable housing.
What is your spirit animal?
I would say a wolf, because they’re loyal. Loyalty to my family and friends is the most important thing to me.
Joe Qualls
Creative Director and Executive Vice President, The Parkside Group
Age: 27
While many political consulting firms work for the highest bidder, Joe Qualls says the Parkside Group is unique in that it develops close relationships with its clients over a long period of time. Many of its Queens Democratic clients have been with the firm for years.
“The thing that sets us apart is that our clients are close to us and comfortable with us,” he said. “It helps us do better work on their behalf. We really put everything we have into these races.”
The firm appears to have done good work this year, going 8-0 in their races during primary season.
Qualls was involved in consumer advertising until 2004, when a recruiter connected Qualls with Parkside. The transition to politics came in the midst of that year’s election season.
“It was right in the middle of primary season, so there was a baptism by fire,” he said. “There were some late nights—and definitely a sense of camaraderie involved.”
Qualls’ portfolio includes a wide range of creative duties, from all the firm’s mail and print ads, to TV editing, to web design. He and the firm have won some dozen Pollys (the award given for political consulting every year) on projects with which Qualls has been involved.
Qualls says that in producing mailers or working with candidates, he simply tries to think of voters as customers making a choice, by building a candidate’s political brand.
“Voters are just political customers, in the same way as someone who is buying Cheerios,” Qualls said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I’ve been involved in consumer-focused adverting, which is all about establishing a brand and building a community around that brand.
What will your business card say in five years?
I don’t care, as long as it’s well-designed.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d head back to consumer advertising at a boutique creative firm.
What is your spirit animal?
I’d have to say a gazelle because of the nice, streamlined shape, and because they’re pretty agile.
Marie Ternes
Chief of Staff, Rep. Anthony Weiner
Age: 31
Marie Ternes has been with Rep. Anthony Weiner since his 2005 mayoral campaign—nearly an eternity for a congressman whose reputation for accuracy and working excruciating hours has left him with one of the highest staff-turnover rates of any House member.
“We’re always doing a million things,” says Ternes, who has just come from a town hall with the city’s former Emergency Management Commissioner Joe Bruno about the tornado that tore through parts of Brooklyn and Queens in early September.
Ternes, graduate of Hampshire College and a New York City native, came to politics through her interest in health care. Growing up on the Upper West Side, she was best friends with two identical twins who had never been to a pediatrician beyond the exam required to attend public school.
“It didn’t make sense to me that 12-year-olds had never been to the doctor,” she said.
She received an award in the 8th grade for fighting for equality—and the rest was history. She headed a group of EMTs in college, and worked for a health care non-profit, eventually realizing that most health care policy is created at the political level.
The culmination of that was getting to work on the Health Reform Bill last spring.
It was hard to realize the momentousness of the bill while working on it, every moment of every day, Ternes said.
“But in a profession like this, you rarely have the opportunity to say, ‘I want to help write the health care bill.’ It was extraordinarily intense,” she said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I think to get to chief of staff in Weiner World is largely about hard work, determination and focus, although it also means I don’t have much of a life.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Chief of Staff, for Anthony Weiner.” It’s hard to go up from “Chief of Staff.”
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I think I’d be sailing on a boat in the Mediterranean. That or a national-park ranger.
What is your spirit animal?
An octopus: I need eight hands to do my job.
Stefanie Fedak
Chief of Staff, Council Member David Greenfield
Age: 25
At his victory party for his special election this spring, Council Member David Greenfield handed down Stefanie Fedak an ultimatum: she had 24 hours to accept a job as his chief of staff.
Fedak had another job offer on the table, but Greenfield’s advisors were impressed by her work on the campaign and wanted her to stay. Fedak agreed.
Fedak said not being Jewish in a heavily Orthodox Jewish Council district poses some challenges, though another staff member is giving her a crash course in Yiddish to help. (“I’m trying, but it’s not going well,” she said.)
Fedak began working in politics as an intern for Bill de Blasio’s public-advocate campaign, then as deputy research director for Bill Thompson’s mayoral efforts. She landed the job with Greenfield after a recommendation from Assembly Member Vito Lopez, a close Greenfield ally.
Fedak says she sees her job as learning about the concerns of community and then linking up those concerns to policies ultimately pushed by Greenfield. One recent example is when Greenfield convinced the Taxi and Limousine Commission to provide van services in lieu of bus routes that had been cut due to the MTA budget crunch.
She also finds learning about the different cultures in the district intellectually invigorating.
“It presents a unique challenge, but I think it’s really enriching in terms of learning about different cultures and different norms,” she said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I worked in the Attorney General’s office for a year, but I’ve always seen the law as a way into politics.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Matzav Maker”—any situation.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Education law. It’s what I was doing in the attorney general’s office.
What is your spirit animal?
The evil monkey from Family Guy. I have one at the office and one at home as well. The Greenfield senior advisors say I’m like the evil monkey.
Nathan Smith
Co-founder, Red Horse Strategies
Age: 36
Nathan Smith is feeling pretty good. As part of the consulting team that brought the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee its blockbuster victories in 2008 and helped unseat incumbent Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. in this year’s primaries, he has had a banner couple of years.
“We were just trying to take out evil people,” he said. “It’s not often in this business where you can wake up in the morning and know you did good for the world besides just accomplishing your own goals.”
The firm was an outgrowth of the winning campaign team that helped boost upstate State Sen. Darrel Aubertine to victory in a 2008 special election. His team also played a big part in the wins of Democratic priority candidates Andrea Stewart-Cousins, David Valesky and Craig Johnson.
Smith, a Florida native, started thinking seriously about politics after working for the United Farm Workers, and moved to New York because he wanted to make a bigger impact.
“I started off as an idealist-activist,” he said.
He has worked as an organizer for Welfare to Work and ACORN, and as chief of staff for Council Member Annabel Palma.
“I really got to apply my organizing skills while I was working on the message side of the business,” he said. “I really got to understand how government works, but I also understand some things about the shortcomings of government.”
How did your past jobs get you where you are today?
My training is from an organizer background—that’s how I learned how to quantify, but I also learned that interacting with people in communities is a powerful thing. I learned about metrics and measurable goals, and all of my work kind of flows from that.
What will your business card say in five years?
Vegetarian-restaurant owner, foreign country. I want to spend half my year in Costa Rica and half the year in New York.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
If I’d never gotten into politics, I probably would have ended up a lawyer—so thank god for politics. Because looking back on it, that’s the last thing I want to be at this point in my life.
What is your spirit animal?
A wolf. I’m kind of a loner, but also sometimes part of the pack.
Shira Gans
Policy Analyst, Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Age: 32
Government is good, says Shira Gans, a policy analyst for Scott Stringer. Right now, she is figuring out how to use government to implement the Manhattan borough president’s food-policy portfolio, a mammoth task that aims to develop a central role for the city on everything from hunger issues to sustainable growth and development.
“It’s an exciting issue,” said Gans.
She thinks a comprehensive food policy can help bridge divides to places upstate, and can help address wide-ranging issues of inequality throughout the five boroughs.
“I’m also personally a big foodie, and I love to cook,” she said.
Gans, a Massachusetts native, went to college at Wesleyan University and worked in prisoner-rights advocacy in California after graduating. She took jobs in the San Francisco mayor’s office and spent time as a federal investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
She earned a Masters in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley before coming to work for the New York City mayor’s Office of Management and Budget.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on poverty and equality issues on the federal, state and local level. All this gave me an appreciation for how to use both government and all its associated systems of change to get things done.
And I got this job because someone forwarded me the posting on the Internet, and I applied for it. It’s nice to know you can just apply for something and get it on merit.”
What will your business card say in five years?
Hopefully, “Food Policy Director, Office of the Mayor.”
If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
Either public interest law, or I would own my own farm-to-table restaurant.
What is your spirit animal?
It’s between a dolphin and a panther. Both are smart and kind, with a little bit of cunning.
Marcus Reese
Campaign manager, Dan Donovan attorney general campaign
Age: 34
Marcus Reese, an Alabama native and self-described Rockefeller Republican, has finally found his niche—working as campaign manager to Republican Attorney General candidate Dan Donovan.
“I’m into promoting moderate independent Republicanism for young people,” said Reese, noting that he, as an African-American, is more of a rarity than he would like to be.
He worked on the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign and quickly learned he did not believe in his party’s own philosophy of micro-targeting certain classes of people. For example, he himself did not fit into the categories.
“We would say, if you shopped at Gucci or drove a Volvo, you’re a liberal. If you drive a truck and read Field and Stream, you’re a conservative,” he said. “I’m one of these weird people from Alabama who loves his beer and bourbon, but I also like to shop at Gucci.”
How did your past jobs get you to where you are now? I went on to work for Bush/Cheney when I was 25, and then I worked for the Republican National Convention in Washington. Then I was the deputy campaign manager for Michael Steel’s U.S. Senate race in Maryland. And now, I’ve joined up with Dan Donovan.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Successful Dad.” My wife’s expecting in February.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
It occurred to me that if I wasn’t working in politics, I would indeed like to be in fashion PR. But not for my sister, or women’s clothes, but for my favorite men’s designer, Tom Ford.
What is your spirit animal?
I’ll punt and say I’d like to be a war eagle, because I’m an Auburn tiger.
Angel Audiffred
Chief of Staff, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez
Age: 32
When a broad group of Bronx elected officials decided to takeover control of the county Democratic party several years ago, a young staffer named Angel Audiffred found himself caught in the middle.
“At the time, I didn’t know the significance,” he said.
Luckily, Audiffred ended up on his feet. He left a job in advertising to work for Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera. Since then, it has been a rollercoaster ride through city government, working for a number of different Council members before ending up in his current post with the newly elected Ydanis Rodriguez.
Each job, though, has led to a greater understanding of the issues in each district. In the Bronx, for instance, he learned about housing rights. In Corona, immigration. In Washington Heights, a lack of services and education. When he worked for Speaker Christine Quinn, he was confronted with the ongoing dispute between the gay community and the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
But he still struggles to make some of his friends understand the importance of his job in city government.
“This is more important than people give credit to,” he said. “A lot of my friends in banking and law, when we get together, they still think I’m a social worker.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
What I took out of advertising did not at all prepare me for government work. Nothing really has prepared me for this. You have to learn on the job.
What will your business card say in five years?
I would hope it will still say “City Council.”
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I would have my own radio show.
What is your spirit animal?
Great Dane
Monica Tavares
Chief of Staff, Fatima Shama, commissioner of Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs
Age: 35
Working for a mayor as pro-immigrant as Michael Bloomberg can lead to a false sense of security for many advocates about the state of immigrant affairs in New York. But not for Monica Tavares, whose sense of urgency about the issues keeps her on a steady schedule, bouncing between all five boroughs, meeting with a broad rainbow of immigrant activists as chief of staff to Fatima Shama, the commissioner of immigrant affairs.
She was frustrated by the recent controversy over the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero, as the opposition to the plan flew in the face of everything she knew about freedom of religion and First Amendment rights.
“As an immigrant and as a city worker, I know full well this is a city for all,” she said.
She started out as an employee at El Museo del Barrio, the city’s only Latino culture museum, where she eventually rose to director of community affairs.
“I was working with all the Latino organizations around the city, making sure they knew of the existence of the only Latin-American museum,” she said, “and making them feel welcome.”
With the Bloomberg administration making immigrants a hallmark of the mayor’s third term, Tavares said she is staying busy behind the scenes, working on a number of secretive projects they hope to roll out in the near future.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Every job has pushed me into this larger arena of working with immigrants. First, with only Latinos in Manhattan, then the mayor’s office of community affairs, working with Latinos again, connecting them to city services.
What will your business card say in five years?
Whatever it is, I will continue to work with immigrants and communities in need.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Definitely not the private sector. It will always be non-profits or the public center.
What is your spirit animal?
I tend to gravitate toward cats. I admire their independence. They know what they want.
Erik Bottcher
LGBT liaison, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Age: 31
Erik Bottcher learned politics from his father, who owned a small resort in Lake Placid, N.Y.
“He was very active in helping promote small businesses and tourism up in our town, because it was a region that struggled. I definitely inherited that from him, and haven’t lost it,” he said.
Bottcher started out in real estate after graduating from George Washington University with a degree in political science. And while he has been working for Council Speaker Chris Quinn for over a year, he remains constantly amazed by the flurry of activity at City Hall.
“Real estate is an amazing industry, it’s fast-paced, but it’s nothing compared to working in government,” he said. “To me, working at City Hall is like being a baseball fan that works at Yankee Stadium.”
He calls his current job one of the best in town, helping advance Quinn’s agenda for the LGBT community. Every day, Bottcher meets with activists and advocates, even traveling to Puerto Rico to speak out against hate crimes.
“Every day I arrive at City Hall, I pinch myself.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Real estate is an industry where you meet a lot of people, and many of the people I met were in government and politics. I followed the speaker and her staff in my spare time, and when the opportunity came to work for her, I jumped at the chance.
What will your business card say in five years?
I’d like it to say, “Advisor to the Mayor of New York City.”
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d like to be working for an advocacy organization, for any organization that helps people who are being denied their civil rights.
What is your spirit animal?
A bluebird. It’s the state bird of New York.
Dan Halloran
Council Member, Queens
Age: 38
For a freshman Council member, Dan Halloran has sure been getting a lot of attention.
There was the time that he followed a traffic cop bogusly running his siren to a donut shop, and was ticketed for illegally parking his car by the agent. (The ticket was dismissed and the agent was reprimanded.) There was a time he shed light on a Department of Buildings policy of issuing faulty building-inspection notices—by fighting one issued against his own home.
Halloran said it is all part of a larger effort to bring to light endemic problems plaguing his northeast Queens district.
“I live in a one- and two-family home community, and all it takes is the little things to affect the quality of life here,” he said. “In this Council district, I have to look out for the little guy.”
As a conservative Republican on the New York City Council, Halloran is something of an anomaly. Halloran said another difference between him and many of his Council colleagues is that he has been a small-business owner (a bar and restaurant), and has had to make a payroll. On issues like the hotly contested paid sick leave, Halloran said this experience gives him unique insight.
Earlier this year, Halloran explored the possibility of running for Congress against Rep. Gary Ackerman, but ultimately declined. Though uncertain what his political future holds, Halloran said he will absolutely not be serving the three terms that was granted to freshman City Council members, even with the wording of the ballot proposal approved by the charter commission.
“The citizens voted—and I felt like that was really subverting the will of the people,” he said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
As a small-business owner, I was able to understand and relate to problems in a different way. I was an ordinary citizen, and saw real problems in this city.
What will your business card say in five years?
Councilman Dan Halloran, Council District 19
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I was doing a lot of interesting work for Holocaust victims and on medical malpractice issues.
What is your spirit animal?
I was an Eagle Scout, so I’m partial to eagles.
Gustavo Rivera
Democratic nominee, State Senate
Age: 34
“The Senate needs better members,” says Gustavo Rivera, the man responsible for putting the much-maligned Pedro Espada, Jr. out to pasture. “I’m going to need better colleagues. And I’m going to do what I can to make sure that happens.”
He has his work cut out for him. As a soon-to-be member of the State Senate, a legislative body not known for its high functionality, Rivera says he wants his experience to be the complete opposite of Espada’s. Translation: no more hostage negotiations, no more coups, no more complaints about the process.
“People say there’s so much cynicism in politics,” he says. “Well, if that’s true, they would have just stayed home.”
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rivera made his foray into politics working on the Senate campaigns of Andrea Stewart-Cousins and José Serrano, transitioning to national politics through his work for SEIU and then Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
After a couple of years doing community outreach for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rivera saw an opportunity to assume the role of candidate himself. With Espada on the ropes after months of negative press, Rivera put together a coalition of reformers, unions and elected officials that eventually resulted in a resounding victory.
Since primary night, life has changed for Gustavo Rivera. Quite possibly forever.
“I’ve been sleeping less,” he said. “It’s been a wild ride. There are very high expectations and we have a lot of work to do.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Working hard to make sure the right type of people are in government matters. That experience, that I took to win this seat.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Senator.” There’s a lot of work to do. Two-year terms are very short. And northwest Bronx has a lot of needs.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d be in the classroom full-time, teaching political science and government.
What is your spirit animal?
A loyal and tenacious guard dog.
Mark Botnick
Co-Executive Director, New York Uprising
Age: 25
Mark Botnick is proud of the work he has done for New York Uprising, the reform group headed by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch. So far he has a majority of legislators in both houses of state government signed onto Uprising’s reform pledge—no small feat in a year when the Legislature seems hard-pressed to agree to anything.
The pledge has become a way for voters to identify candidates unwilling to sign off on things such as independent redistricting and ethics reform, which New York Uprising says are the necessary measures to change the status quo in Albany.
Botnick became involved with Koch’s campaign hereditarily. Both parents worked in the Koch administration. Botnick, a Riverdale native, who majored in political science at Queens College, actually became a political junkie at the tender age of 20, when he interned at City Hall.
He got his start working on Mayor Bloomberg’s 2005 re-election campaign, and “hasn’t been able to stop since,” he said.
He also managed David Greenfield’s 2010 City Council campaign and worked on Bloomberg’s third-term re-election campaign, where he was responsible for outreach to Jewish voters.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I worked as hard as I could. I’ve been able to use skills from every job, and every job has been in politics. I had known Mayor Koch my entire life, too, and reform is something I believe in. So when I saw the New York Times article when Koch first announced New York Uprising, I sent him an e-mail.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Mark Botnick.” (That just means I don’t know. )
If you weren’t working in politics, what would you be doing?
I could be in medicine—I’m already an EMT. But in my ultimate, ultimate dream, I’d be flying a fighter jet.
What is your spirit animal?
Fox. I am independent yet highly sociable, able to work quickly and efficiently to get the job done.
Jason Otaño
Counsel, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
Age: 31
Sheepshead Bay native Jason Otaño used to be an entertainment lawyer. Now he works for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
The jobs are pretty similar, he said.
Markowitz is helping the borough develop a reputation for huge concerts and festivals, such as the Seaside Summer Concert Series and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert series.
Otaño advises Markowitz on all legal matters, including those related to the concerts, which some have said will be the borough president’s greatest legacy.
Otaño helps Markowitz create contracts for others programs and festivals, such as the Brooklyn Book Festival. He also represents Markowitz as the borough trustee for the NYCERS pension fund.
He was always drawn to policy, just for fun, even as a lawyer. He grew up with an awareness of the city’s local politics, with a firefighter for a father and his mother working at the Department of Education.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I wasn’t necessarily a viable candidate for this job until they met me. But being a New York City kid, I’ve always been interested in what goes on in the city. And as an entertainment lawyer, I dealt with high-profile clientele. It’s actually funny how representing entertainment artists and representing elected officials is very similar.
What will your business card say in five years?
Hopefully, “City Council Member.”
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d still be full-time in entertainment law.
What is your spirit animal?
Now that I’m staying in shape with kung fu, I’d say the dragon.
Liz Weinstein
Director, Mayor’s Office of Operations
Age: 33
After Jeffrey Kay announced he would be stepping down from the position of director of operations for Mayor Bloomberg, Liz Weinstein put her name in for the job, not knowing if she was senior enough to get it.
After a few months, she got her answer.
“The symbiosis seems to work, because obviously I work for Deputy Mayor [Stephen] Goldsmith, and he’s new to the city—I’ve been with the administration eight years,” she said. “We sort of complement each other well.”
Goldsmith, she says, tends to “bounce a lot.” Weinstein considers herself a realist, while the new deputy mayor is more a sky’s-the-limit, energy-and-verve kind of guy. That said, she knows there are high expectations for Bloomberg’s third term, and as such has no intention of resting on her laurels.
Weinstein came to the city from Philadelphia, where she did some work for Ed Rendell’s gubernatorial campaign. Here, she logged in some time working for an advertising firm before ending up at the Department of Transportation. She eventually rose to become ex-DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall’s chief of staff, then transitioned to the mayor’s office as director of agency services and then head of consumer affairs. In her new role, Weinstein oversees 311, as well as working alongside Goldsmith to help sniff out government inefficiencies.
“There’s a real sense of urgency,” she said. “Folks are motivated. We really want to get things done.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Advertising gave me a sense of branding and communications, as well as the way an organization presents itself. Campaigning gave me a project to set up, a sense of urgency. There’s no better set-up for this than working for Iris.
What will your business card say in five years?
We’re going paperless, so there will be no business cards.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I can’t see myself in anything else. Isn’t that pathetic?
What is your spirit animal?
I hate animals. I do like meerkats.
Adam Lisberg
City Hall Bureau Chief, New York Daily News
Age: 40
Like most journalists, Adam Lisberg takes great pride in being out ahead of the pack. For instance, when every other news outlet was reporting Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s victory in the 2009 election as a foregone conclusion, Lisberg urged caution.
“I was one of the few people who said from the start that Bloomberg was going to have a close race,” he said. “The obvious story was right in public view. You just have to keep your eyes open.”
He learned this by doing what a lot of reporters can be loath to do: take to the streets and talk to people. And what he heard surprised him: Bloomberg was not universally loved, and many were uneasy about the state of their city.
“I just kept reporting,” Lisberg said. “And I was right.”
While he may love New York and its colorful cast of political characters, Lisberg said his heart will always be in Chicago, where he got his start reporting for the wire services.
“Chicago is the dirtiest,” he said, “and most fun.”
From Chicago, he migrated to Vermont to cover the state house for the Burlington Free Press. Then he joined the Daily News in 2004, first doing street reporting and graduating to cover politics four years later.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Covering New York is just like covering every place else, but just bigger. They’ve all got zoning boards and legislators who take contributions from businesses who need favors.
What will your business card say in five years?
Hopefully, it will have my e-mail address on it.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
My goal is to write a book.
What is your spirit animal?
A duck. They’re cute, they fly, they swim. They’re very versatile.
Steve McInnis
Political Director, New York City District Council of Carpenters
Age: 38
Steve McInnis grew up in a family of carpenters, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would stay close to them.
The Valley Stream native headed all the way down to George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., for college, and returned to two options.
“When I got out of school, my dad told me, ‘You could be in the union or of the union,’ and I nearly broke my mother’s heart when I joined the carpenters’ union right out of college,” he said.
But he switched over to the union’s political side, and has stayed there for 12 years, brokering legislation to help the city’s carpenters fight for wage increases and medical benefits.
McInnis said working in a city where vertical growth and construction is a constant can be difficult. So when not advocating on behalf of the city’s 25,000 unionized carpenters, he has just enough time to spend with his children and wife. And baseball.
“I’m a big Yankees fan,” he said.
His most recent coup for the carpenters is a bill called the Fair Play Act , which grants the presumption of employee status for anyone on a construction site.
“The governor just signed that,” he said proudly.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I think working as a union carpenter gave me a perspective of what carpenters’ needs and wants are. It helps me to stay focused on things that will only help them.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Steve McInnis, Carpenters’ Union.” I want to stay right where I am.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be a social studies teacher. I like history, I like civics. But I also look like a cop, so I’d probably end up being a cop.
What is your spirit animal?
A bear
Carolyn Wolpert
Deputy Division Chief, Pensions Division, New York City Law Department
Age: 35
Serving as counsel to the city’s billion-dollar pension system may seem like pretty dry stuff, but for Carolyn Wolpert there have been moments of high emotion.
For instance, she was involved in a prolonged process to award accident and death benefits to fiancés, not spouses, of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“These were just heart-wrenching cases,” she recalled. “A lot of tough issues to consider.”
Wolpert represents the pension funds in state and federal court, as well as assists in investigating securities fraud class actions such as the Countrywide Financial case, where New York was a lead plaintiff. She helps interpret new laws, as well as dispense legal advice to the board as a whole.
Fordham and Georgetown prepared her for the work she does today, as did a short stint in a private firm. Today she also serves as an adjunct law professor at Columbia University, but it is her time with the pension fund that really defines her experience in the city.
“Teachers, police, firefighters,” she said, ticking off the members of the fund’s board of trustees. “This is a lively group of people.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I worked in the DA’s office as an undergrad, in the witness aid services unit.
What will your business card say in five years?
Same as now, “New York City Law Department.”
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I can see myself as a pretty good kindergarten teacher.
What is your spirit animal?
A beagle puppy, loyal and happy
Adam Riff
Co-executive director, New York Uprising
Age: 27
Growing up in the rough-and-tumble political town of Chicago, Adam Riff got his start working in the district office of a newly elected senator named Barack Obama. Feeling anxious, or maybe just looking to stretch his legs, Riff decided to move to New York and work for Eliot Spitzer’s gubernatorial campaign. How was he to know that two years later…
“My mom still hasn’t forgiven me for that,” he said.
Riff paid his dues in New York stuffing envelopes for State Senate Democrats, state party folk and others. Last year, he helped lead Mike Bloomberg’s LGBT outreach for the campaign.
Then came Ed Koch and New York Uprising, for Riff an incredible opportunity to have a loud voice in this year’s election. That, and it gave him the chance to match wits with the 85-year-old Koch. While the race ends in November, Riff said the intention is to keep New York Uprising viable.
“It really is important to him to hold people accountable to sign these pledges,” he said. “It will definitely continue in some form that allows him to do that.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I have worked in Albany and know how frustrating it is for people who want to get things done. I think Bradley Tusk knew that part of my background when he introduced me to Koch.
What will your business card say in five years?
Not sure, title-wise. It will have my Twitter handle, @adamriffing.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I have a standing offer from Tom Duane to host a radio variety show.
What is your spirit animal?
Kermit the Frog, who’s more than a little bit earnest.
Mandela Jones
Aide, City Council Member Al Vann
Age: 28
Mandela Jones grew up in New Rochelle and went to college in Colorado, but he is Brooklyn through and through when it comes to politics.
As an aide to City Council Member Al Vann, Jones says what he enjoys most is shuttling out into the community, away from an office and into the field, where he is responsible for listening to the concerns of Bedford-Stuyvesant residents. As the main stage for black politics in New York shifts from Harlem to Brooklyn, Jones is helping Vann address the needs of one of the largest black urban populations in America.
He grew up with Brooklyn borough politics in his blood. His father, a former professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College and later a dean, took him to the New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Conference every year when he was a boy.
Both of his parents were involved in social movements in the ’60s and ’70s, but Jones says his real interest in politics did not emerge until he got to college.
He wanted to get away from the East Coast, but his freshman year African-American studies classes sparked an interest in politics that brought him back to New York.
He interned for Vann’s office after his sophomore year. Jones admires the way in which the councilman has been able to keep his commitment to his community over decades in elected office.
“He has incredible dedication to public service, and he’s lived in the community his entire life,” Jones said.
How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
I look at my job as a privilege, because I had a job in retail right after I got out of college. It humbled me and helped me to sustain myself. I was passionate about working for non-profits then, and I didn’t have the opportunity. That experience makes me really appreciate the job I have now.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Senior adviser” or “political director”
If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d be in music. I used to deejay on the side.
What is your spirit animal?
This is a question where I wish I knew more about animals.
Ari Hoffnung
Assistant Comptroller for Budget and Chief Policy Officer
Age: 37
Ari Hoffnung, a child of the “great borough of the Bronx,” used to work on Wall Street.
After earning his MBA from NYU, he worked for more than a decade as a managing director for Bear Stearns.
But he always kept an eye on politics, volunteering for non-profits and campaigns in his spare time. He ran for City Council against Oliver Koppell twice. But his big break finally came as Bear Stearns tanked.
“I took the moment as an opportunity for some personal reflection and reassessment of my career goals,” he said.
When the opportunity to work for Comptroller John Liu presented itself, he jumped at the chance.
In the months since Liu was elected, Hoffnung has been most proud of the creation of Checkbook NYC, an online program that allows residents to see exactly where the city’s budget goes, line by line.
For Hoffnung, transparency is crucial to good government.
“Transparency helps voters hold elected officials more accountable. It reduces cynicism so many people have for government. There’s a perception that everything happens behind closed doors. When you open up operations, you’re giving people the feeling that they have access to what’s happening,” he said.
How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
Working in finance was satisfying, but I always felt that something was missing. Volunteering with political campaigns is what kept me going. After the crash, I thought, where do I really want to be? What do I really want to do? I spent a year working for then-Councilman Simcha Felder, and when he was appointed deputy comptroller, I was fortunate to be able to join his staff.
What will your business card say in five years?
New York City’s Chief Transparency Officer
If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d be back in the financial services arena. That’s where I spent the lion’s share of my professional career. I enjoy doing that, but not nearly as much as I enjoy politics.
What is your spirit animal?
A bird, because “birdie” was one of the first words that my daughter Violet said. Also, I like to be able to see the big picture.
Jon Reinish
Special Projects Manager, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Age: 36
New York City native Jon Reinish may have majored in art history at Vassar and spent most of his early career in fashion, but he can remember the moment he got hooked on politics.
“It was the year 2000. I started devoting so much of my time to the blogosphere, because I perceived that there was a great deal of injustice, and leadership not doing what it should,” he said. “I became completely obsessed.”
By 2006, he had restarted his life, applying to Johns Hopkins, where he received his Master’s in Government. By 2008, he had become the deputy district manager in Southeastern Virginia for Barack Obama’s campaign, and later he caught the eye of Kirsten Gillibrand. He now works as a community liaison for the senator to LGBT and arts communities, relaying information and concerns from Gillibrand’s constituents to her personally.
He also hosts an ongoing series of LGBT community roundtables across the state to address each community’s individual concerns.
For Reinish, the job is “incredibly gratifying,” not only because it finally satisfies the political itch he took so long to scratch, but also because of his faith in Gillibrand.
“I have the great fortune of working for a senator who is the LGBT community’s number-one advocate in Washington. She wants to hear directly from her constituents,” he said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are today?
I worked in communications and that helped, because grasping a subject and becoming an immediate advocate for it is a skill that I picked up along the way.
What will your business card say in five years?
Special Projects Director for Second-Term U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be an architect, because that’s what Mr. Brady did on the Brady Bunch.
What is your spirit animal?
A fox
Sharada Polavarapu
Political Director, New York City Central Labor Council
Age: 29
The Central Labor Council is a coalition containing an incredibly broad range of labor interests: from building trades, to hotel workers, to public-sector employees.
As political director for the Council, Sharada Polavarapu’s job is to find common ground between their political efforts and, more generally, promote the efforts of working people in the city at large.
“My job is to move within those areas of common ground,” she said.
That includes everything from improving health care benefits to ironing out deals for economic development projects. Sometimes, the work involves going from union to union and gauging their needs, while other times, she helps get everyone in a room to hash out any competing agendas.
Polavarapu got her start interning in Hillary Clinton’s Senate office as a junior in college, then went to grad school at Hunter College to study urban affairs. She began working for then-Council Member Bill de Blasio in college, eventually becoming his legislative director, before joining the CLC in 2007.
During the 2009 primary elections, the CLC backed the successful campaigns of Gustavo Rivera, Carolyn Maloney and Francisco Moya, though they came up short in support for the primary challenger to Assembly Member Jonathan Bing.
She said the CLC chooses to back candidates that the labor movement broadly agrees on, even despite their at times competing interests.
“It’s definitely a balancing act,” she said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Working for Bill de Blasio was a great training ground for me. It adds to my experience to have been on the government side when I’m dealing with labor interests.
What will your business card say in five years?
I would hope that I’d be in a position to help others and to be in public service. The only reason I’m not just doing policy is that you can have more of an impact to change things in politics.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I would be in journalism. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an anchor. I’ve always had respect for that field.
What is your spirit animal?
A cat. It has nine lives. I think I’m resilient and bounce back quickly.
Sami Naim
Assistant Counselor to Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Age: 32
Sami Naim was on track to take a job at a big corporate law firm and earn all the prestige that came with it, when he decided to take a walk in the park instead.
“Yeah, the Parks Department,” Naim said. “That wasn’t even on my radar. I didn’t even know they had lawyers.”
Naim, who is originally from upstate New York, accepted a position at the Parks Department that allowed him to explore every green inch of his new city, all while working on rulemaking on controversial issues like dog leashes, houseboats and membership fees for recreation centers. He got to experience everything from soccer in Flushing Meadows to bird watching in Bronx River Park.
Now, as an assistant counsel to the most powerful man in the city, Naim still calls on his experience at Parks when tackling his new portfolio. For example, he was involved in helping craft Bloomberg’s latest proposal to ban smoking in parks and public beaches.
That said, there are several striking differences between the two jobs.
“Back then, my office was in a park,” he said. “Here, you go through metal detectors every day.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
When I worked at the Parks Department, I worked on a broad swath of issues that really prepared me for my current position.
What will your business card say in five years?
I just hope it’s not something boring.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Landscape architect
What is your spirit animal?
A monkey, like Curious George.
Karen Becker
Chief of Staff, Council Member Domenic Recchia
Age: 27
Ever since Domenic Recchia took over the City Council’s Finance Committee, Karen Becker has been by his side, helping navigate the twisted and often convoluted path of the city’s budget.
She had some experience with the budget, having helped piece together cultural and arts spending when Recchia headed that committee, but this was undoubtedly much different.
“There’s a lot more involved,” she said. “A lot more intricacies and more negotiating that goes on.”
Brooklyn-born, Becker went to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where she studied international relations and political science. She was also an active member of the marching band.
While home for one summer during college, Becker was urged to intern with her local Council member.
“I’ve always been involved in politics and government,” she said. “I saw government as that body that helps people the most.”
The following summer, she was hired back.
“I got a call from Domenic,” she said. “He wanted to know what I was doing next year.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
It was all leading up to this moment. I even interned with the Liberal Democrats in London. But it’s a great thing to start at the bottom of the scale.
What will your business card say in five years?
“Dive master.” I just got certified in scuba diving.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Marine biology
What is your spirit animal?
Otter
Taylor Koss
Deputy Bureau Chief, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes
Age: 35
Taylor Koss will always remember Reginald Gousse, and how good it felt to put him behind bars.
Gousse would stake out businesses or drug dealers, and then,
impersonating a police officer, would kidnap them, terrorize them,
sometimes kill them. After his arrest and attempted escape from the New
York Supreme Court—in which he swallowed a handcuff key—Koss, as an
assistant district attorney in Brooklyn and a native Brooklynite to
boot, got the chance to make Gousse pay for his many crimes.
“If you can’t trust the police, who can you trust?” he said.
Koss attended undergrad at SUNY-Albany, then got his law degree at
Arizona State. Pursuing his interest in becoming a prosecutor, Koss
joined Hynes’ office. But there he developed an interest in things other
than prosecution.
“Counseling, seeing people turn their lives around,” he said. “Hynes is huge into alternative programs.”
He has become a big believer in mentoring ex-cons after they are
released from jail, which he says can cut recidivism by 30 percent.
“I think that distinguishes this office from the other DA offices around the city,” Koss said. “He’s been a pioneer.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I always wanted to give back to the community I grew up in. My aunt did a
lot of criminal defense work, so I always knew I wanted to be on the
other side of that. Oh, and watching copious amounts of Law &
Order.
What will your business card say in five years?
I’m interested in politics and in running for elected office. So, “Councilman,” maybe?
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Writing fiction, specifically crime fiction. I’ve always been interested in crime fiction.
What is your spirit animal?
Goats. Those things will eat anything.
Marvin Bing
NYS Director for One Nation Working Together March; Bill Lynch Associates
Age: 26
At age 26, Marvin Bing is a seasoned political warrior, having worked on campaigns from the wilds of Pennsylvania to the shores of New York and New Jersey.
But that does not mean he has become too cynical about the process to sit at the feet of old timers like Bill Lynch and absorb some historical lessons. Bing, who is a director at One Nation Working Together, a nationwide liberal coalition that is planning a march on Washington, D.C., in October, counts that as one of his favorite things to do.
“I just sit in his presence and hear his life stories,” Bing says of Lynch. “I’m a big believer in the importance of history.”
Bing also counts himself among the new generation of political leaders in Harlem. With stalwarts like Lynch, David Dinkins and Charlie Rangel reaching the end of their careers, Bing said it is more important than ever that young people like him step up to take the reins.
“We don’t get mentioned very often,” he says. “We’re in the shadows.”
How did past jobs get you where you are now?
They gave me hands-on experience in building winning coalitions for candidates.
What will your business card say in five years?
New York State Assemblyman
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Marine biologist
What is your spirit animal?
A dolphin, because they have a great sense of hearing.
Francisco Moya
Democratic Assembly nominee, Queens
Age: 35
Thanks to running against Hiram Monserrate, Francisco Moya got more attention from the world at large than he probably otherwise would have. But the big-margin victory was news itself, even around the world.
Moya is the first person of Ecuadorian descent elected to a position in state government in U.S. history—an achievement that has led to an appearance on CNN International, put his face on the front page of every major Ecuadorian newspaper and prompted the country’s ambassador to the United States to come to his primary-night party.
Moya’s parents, who came to the United States in 1962, pushed him to get involved in local causes from a young age. At 15, he formed a block association in his neighborhood of Corona Gardens as a response to a spike in crime and graffiti.
“From the beginning, I’ve always had an interest in giving back to the community,” he said.
He went on to work for Rep. Nydia Velázquez and California Rep. Brad Sherman, before joining then-Senate Minority Leader David Paterson’s staff as secretary to the conference. He also ran an unsuccessful special-election campaign for Monserrate’s former Council seat, losing to Julissa Ferreras.
In running against Monserrate this time, Moya said his goal was to make sure constituents finally had effective representation.
“When someone’s under a cloud like that, a lot of really important things never get done,” he said. “The rents are sky-high, the classrooms are overcrowded. That all happened under his watch. I stand up and say something when things are wrong.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
It’s been activism from the age of 15 that really brought about changes and my interest in the neighborhood.
What will your business card say in five years?
Assembly Member Moya
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Midfielder for Barcelona SC, the greatest soccer club in the world.
What is your spirit animal?
A Liger [The fake animal from the movie Napoleon Dynamite that is a combination lion/tiger]. I’ll keep things light.
Josh Gold
Special Counsel and Director of Public Affairs, Comptroller John Liu
Age: 29
Josh Gold has a law degree from Fordham, but he has done everything except practice law—from working on Mayor Bloomberg’s 2005 re-election campaign to running the get-out-the-vote operation for President Obama in Ohio in 2008, to working as a health care education operative for the state’s largest health care union, 1199 SEIU.
He ran John Liu’s field operation for his 2009 comptroller campaign. The race, which Liu won handily with broad support from unions, was seen as a historic event, with the election of Liu to be the most powerful Asian-American in city government.
Gold said he did it by incorporating the skills he had picked up on the Obama campaign for his get-out-the-vote operation.
After the election, he left SEIU to work full time in the comptroller’s office, where his practical understanding of politics and organizational skill comes in handy as he deals with the city’s ravenous press corps.
How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
At 1199, I learned that a great way to see progressive change is through the political process, and I think that has encouraged me to do public service. This is my first real opportunity to do so.
In five years, what will it say on your business card?
Hopefully, I won’t need one. Your readers can hypothesize as to what that means.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be a practicing attorney.
What is your spirit animal?
I heard about this question in advance and I went online and found a survey, and they told me I was a fox, but I don’t really buy it. I’m a little skeptical.
Jessica Proud
Account Executive,
Nicholas and Lence Communications
Age: 28
Jessica Proud knows her politics. Evidence: her recent win in a primary election poll conducted by City Hall, in which she guessed all but three of the state’s primary-night winners correctly.
The Vermont native and SUNY-Albany graduate got her degree in political science and communications.
“Going to school in the capital was great, because I had the opportunity to watch all the action,” she said.
After graduating, she stayed in Albany to work with Cathy Young’s State Senate campaign. It was the start of a career in which she dabbled in everything from policy to field work to managing campaigns.
She has worked for Maureen O’Connell and John Faso, who she says has “one of the most brilliant minds in state government,” and as deputy director of public affairs for Joe Bruno through his resignation, before joining Nicholas and Lence.
Like a targeted missile, she gets sent out to campaigns all over the state, especially for special elections.
Most recently, she worked on the David Malpass campaign for Senate. Malpass’ ultimate defeat was disappointing, she said. But her firm is also representing state comptroller candidate Harry Wilson, for whom Proud has high hopes against incumbent Tom Dinapoli.
How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
Having experience in all the different working parts of the campaign helps you on any race to understand all the moving pieces. In communications, I love the idea of working creative ways to drive a message that helps shape public opinions. You can have the best policies in the world, but if you’re not communicating them to the right audience, they’re useless.
Five years from now, what will it say on your business card?
The whole world can change in 24 hours in politics.
If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
Growing up, I always thought I’d follow my mom into fashion. She discouraged me from it because it’s such a cutthroat industry.
What is your spirit animal?
A dog. I’m loyal, and I love to be around people.
Ben Geyerhahn
Partner, Hudson TG
Age: 39
Even though a number of candidates backed by pro-charter-school forces faired poorly in this year’s primary, Ben Geyerhahn is convinced the movement is on the path to success. The Legislature has already voted to raise the cap on the number of charter schools, and New York is set to receive a large windfall from the federal government for its efforts.
“You always want to win,” he said. “My belief is that the legislation that got passed would not have passed as easily if not for the pressure brought by pro-charter-school candidates.”
Hudson TG, the firm he started with Mike Tobman, represented many of those candidates. He expects next year to be lean in terms of clients, so they intend to switch their focus to health care reform, helping small businesses deal with the impact of the changes passed by Congress.
“There’s a tremendous amount of state and national work to do,” he said.
Geyerhahn practiced law until 2004, when he decided to take a job on John Edwards’ presidential campaign. From there, he worked for State Sen. Diane Savino and several PACs and think tanks.
Tobman referred him to the Democrats for Education Reform, a pro-charter PAC, after which they joined forces to open their own shop.
“It’s been a good marriage,” he said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
Spending eight years working in a Wall Street law firm teaches you just about everything you need to know about this stuff.
What will your business card say in five years?
I expect it will read the same as it does now.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I don’t ever envision leaving this business.
What is your spirit animal?
Owls are predatory, but they also have the visionary component. And vision is thoughtful.
Jonathan Chung
Legislative Director, City Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr.
Age: 29
Jonathan Chung has been working on a bill that would make it illegal for licensed gun owners to carry their weapons while impaired.
The bill came up as an idea in Albany, but that is where, as Chung says, “good bills go to die.”
The bill is just one of the many public-safety initiatives Chung has helped to develop with Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr., who chairs the public-safety committee.
Chung, a Queens native, shares his penchant for public safety with his boss, who sponsored bills on everything from sterilizing pit bulls to tougher anti-graffiti laws.
Chung was a paralegal before he joined the councilman’s office, and a congressional intern before that. But Chung said his interest in politics went back to college.
“I was bitten by the political bug before I went to intern with his office, and I was a senator in student government at Adelphi University,” he said.
He followed college with a stint as an intern for Rep. Gregory Meeks, in Washington, D.C.
“Naturally then, I wanted to see what it would be like to work for an elected official,” he said.
How did your past jobs get you where you are today?
I worked on public-safety issues in college, and I heard of an opening with the Councilman’s office back in 2006. Everything I’ve ever done helped me to get exactly where I am today.
In five years, what will it say on your business card?
“Executive Director,” or a commissioner in the Vallone administration, or just the Honorable “dot dot dot”…
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I’d either work for a non-profit or be an executive with the New York Mets. I’ve criticized them enough from the sidelines that I think I’m ready to go in there and do something.
What is your spirit animal?
A hawk. They’re quiet and focused.
Ana Maria Archila
Co-executive Director, Make the Road New York
Age: 31
Like many New Yorkers, Ana Maria Archila’s life changed after the Sept. 11 attacks. She had always worked in immigrant rights, striving to give voice to the voiceless, but working to identify those victims of the attacks that were undocumented helped galvanize her mission in life.
“Even in death they were invisible workers, they were invisible New Yorkers,” she said. “That was an experience that helped me decide that, even though I was an immigrant myself, I had an easier life that I should put to good use, for people who could be my brothers and sisters.”
Archilla, who came to New York from Columbia at age 17, started out her professional career with a Latino immigrant-rights group, based in Staten Island and Queens. She saw the potential for more. Merging her group with Make the Road By Walking, another grassroots immigrant organization, they formed Make the Road New York in 2007. Since then, Archila and her allies have been steeped in the fights for paid sick leave and to end wage theft, among many other battles.
Along the way, she has remained amazed at the level of passion and commitment that exists among the city’s immigrants.
“I understood that there was tremendous levels of political energy,” she said.
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
The experience of working directly with the people who are most affected by the policies we have in our city helped me clarify my values—the fact that I really believe these people need to have a voice at the table.
What will your business card say in five years?
I want it to say “Co-executive Director of Make the Road New York.” I still have a lot of work to do.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
I would love to be a jazz singer. Or maybe Bossa Nova.
What is your spirit animal?
A worker bee. They’re very communal and they work together.
Patrick Van Keerbergen
New York Field Director, Democrats for Education Reform
Age: 32
During the recent push by the charter-school movement into local politics, the facet of the operation that has gained the most attention is the amount of money the movement’s hedge-fund donors can pour into campaigns.
But Democrats for Education Reform, the pro-charter umbrella group coordinating many of these efforts, has also been trying to expand their ground game to compete with the field operations of the teachers unions. (The primary-election results show that they are still doing some catching up.)
In April, DFER’s executive director, Joe Williams, brought Patrick Van Keerbergen aboard just as the group was making a final push to lift the charter cap to expand the group’s electoral influence.
“I definitely do think that, given the number of charter-school parents that are highly vested in this issue, there is a lot of potential and it’s starting to get tapped,” he said.
Van Keerbergen cut his teeth doing organizing for the Working Families Party, before working as chief of staff for Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, then as Manhattan field director for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 re-election campaign.
Van Keerbergen is one of several people (including Bloomberg campaign manager Bradley Tusk) who moved from the pro-charter mayor’s campaign into promoting the cause for DFER.
“This was a big issue in the mayoral campaign, and something the mayor talked about openly,” he said. “It was natural to move into this.”
How did past jobs get you to where you are now?
I’ve been very lucky that every job I’ve had so far, I’ve been surrounded by smart people who passed things on and taught me about building power and relationships.
What will your business card say in five years?
Five years is hard to imagine. No idea about the title, but I hope I’m in New York City, still working on issues I care about.
If you weren’t in politics, what would you be doing?
Organizing or working in the non-profit sector.
What is your spirit animal?
Beaver
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