Hochul names former NYC mayoral candidate Garcia to key post

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Wednesday appointed former New York City mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia to serve as director of state operations.

Garcia will be elevated to the key role after serving as commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation and coming in second in the July Democratic primary for New York City mayor, just behind Eric Adams.

Her new job will encompass a set of crucial duties, including oversight of agency commissioners.

Hochul also named Neysa Alsina as her special adviser on pandemic relief in an announcement.

“When I was officially sworn in last week, I outlined my top priorities to combat the Delta variant, get aid out the door to New Yorkers as quickly as possible, and to change the culture in Albany,” Hochul said.

“Kathryn Garcia and Neysa Alsina are tremendously accomplished and dedicated public servants. They know how to run effective and professional operations, and they will be instrumental in making our State government work better for New Yorkers and restoring trust in government,” Hochul added.  

Garcia ran a tight race in the mayoral primary earlier this year, bolstering her moderate credentials and losing to Adams in the final round of tabulation by about 1 point in the ranked-choice voting system.

Hochul, who hails from the western New York city of Buffalo, last week also named Manhattan-area state Sen. Brian Benjamin as her lieutenant governor, making good on her promise to include downstate Democrats in her administration. Hochul took over as governor last month after the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) over allegations of sexual abuse and harassment.