Kathy Hochul names women as her top two aides

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), set to become the state’s first female governor this week following the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) over sexual harassment allegations, named two women to be her top aides on Monday.

The New York Times reports that Karen Persichilli Keogh has been appointed to be secretary to the governor and Elizabeth Fine has been appointed as governor’s counsel.

Both Fine and Keogh come from political backgrounds, working in New York and Washington. A Hochul aide told the Times that she and Keogh have been friends for years.

Hochul said in a statement that the two appointees will help her “turn the corner on the pandemic and serve the best interests of New York, whether it’s defeating Covid, getting more people vaccinated, or strengthening our economy.”

Keogh most recently worked as head of global philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Fine currently works as general counsel and executive vice president for Empire State Development. She has previously served as counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno under former President Clinton.

Howard Zemsky, former president at Empire State Development, told the Times that Fine is “admired and respected by everyone at ESD and frankly by everyone who knows her and somehow most people do!”

Hochul is expected to be sworn into office early on Tuesday.

In an interview last week, she said that “it won’t be difficult” for her to move on from Cuomo’s term, pledging to create an environment where women feel safe and welcome.

“Everyone who’s known my career, over 27 years in elected office, knows that I have very high ethical standards, and I will go in there and literally say, ‘It’s a whole new day,'” she said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

The Times notes that Hochul has said she will need 45 days to determine which of Cuomo’s staffers she will retain for her administration.

Cuomo gave a farewell address on Monday, blasting the harassment investigation against him carried out by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and hailing his legacy as governor.

“The attorney general’s report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it worked. There was a political and media stampede,” Cuomo said, adding that “no governor in the nation has passed more progressive legislation.”