Romaine Makes Key Appointments

For the first time in 12 years, there’s a new team in the county executive suite as Edward Romaine fills in key parts of his administration.

At Romaine’s right hand will be Chief Deputy County Executive Kevin Molloy, who served as his chief of staff when he was Brookhaven Supervisor. Molloy, a former newspaperman who has extensive governmental experience, is the treasurer of the Brookhaven Republican Committee. “A piece of advice l took to heart from Rob Astorino, the former Westchester county executive, was to surround yourself with people you know and trust and who are up to the job,” Romaine said of his staff choices.

For his commissioner of Public Works, Romaine is relying on experience in choosing Charles Bartha, who has held the position in previous administrations. Darnell Tyson will be his chief deputy. Romaine’s sticking with the current Parks commissioner, Jason Smagin, an appointment of his predecessor, Steve Bellone, who was prohibited from running for reelection under the county’s term limit law. Another Bellone appointment who’s staying on is Sarah Lansdale, who will serve as commissioner of Economic Development and Planning.

County Executive Ed Romaine Vision Long Island | Facebook Reels

Romaine has announced a number of deputies, including Chief Deputy Michael Monahan, Christina Capobianco for Finance, Dr. Sylvia Diaz for Health, Human Services and Education, and Jennifer Jeungst, the county’s "sewer czar.” Bellone’s deputy in the sewer role, Peter Scully, announced his retirement prior to Romaine taking office. Vanessa Baird-Streeter, a former deputy county executive, was recently announced as president of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. She succeeds Rebecca Sanin, who was elected to the Suffolk Legislature in November.

According to Romaine’s new communications director, Michael Martino, who previously served in that role for the county legislature, the office is still considering candidates for police commissioner and deputy county executive for Public Safety. Other roles yet to be announced are county attorney and high-level staffers in that office, as well as Consumer Affairs, Labor, Office for the Aging, Central Procurement, Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services, Probation, and Human Resources, Personnel, and Civil Service.

Romaine has the ability to replace non-civil service personnel and said he will review some of the moves made by Bellone in switching members of his appointed staff to protected civil service positions.