Cuomo names staffers for his inner circle

ALBANY - Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo Thursday made the first appointments of his administration, some of whom worked with him in the state attorney general's office, federal housing department and when his father was governor.

The nine appointees are a diverse group in terms of gender, ethnicity and age. Most are from New York City. All will work in Cuomo's inner circle on the Capitol's second floor.

He said the group had "extraordinary talent to help our administration take on the challenge of restoring our state government and making it work for the people once again."

Cuomo's top aide, as secretary to the governor, will be Steven M. Cohen, now chief of staff and adviser to the attorney general.

The other appointments are:

Mylan L. Denerstein, a counselor. Since January 2007, she has served as executive deputy attorney general for social justice.

Leslie G. Leach as appointments secretary. He has served as executive deputy attorney general for the state counsel division since February 2007 and was a state Supreme Court justice in Queens.

Benjamin Lawsky as chief of staff. He has served as deputy counselor and special assistant to Cuomo since January 2007.

Adam Cohen as special policy adviser. A lecturer at Yale University Law School, Cohen has written three books and editorials for The New York Times. Jeremy Creelan to be special counsel for public integrity and ethics reform. He is former deputy director of New York University Law School's Brennan Center for Justice.

Yrthya A. Dinzey-Flores to be chief diversity officer. The post was created by Gov. David A. Paterson this year. Dinzey-Flores has worked for Toyota.

Andrew Zambelli to be gubernatorial counselor. He held top jobs in Mario Cuomo's administration, including secretary to the governor.

Howard B. Glaser as state operations director and senior policy adviser. He served in top jobs at the federal Housing and Urban Development Department under Cuomo.