Cuomo transition team includes Mangano, other GOPers

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo announced some of the first members of his transition team Thursday, a diverse assortment of government and private-sector leaders that will be chaired by his lieutenant governor and includes Nassau County's Republican executive, Edward Mangano.

Cuomo also announced a Council of Economic and Fiscal Advisors had been formed to guide him on fiscal issues during the transition and after he takes office.

Co-chairing the transition are Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who headed his outreach to the state's Hispanic leadership; Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney, a Republican who bucked her party to endorse Cuomo; former state Comptroller Carl McCall, whom Cuomo once challenged for governor; and financier Felix Rohatyn, former chairman of the Municipal Assistance Corp., which salvaged New York City's finances in the 1970s.

Cuomo said he hoped they would help him "attract the best and brightest talent to the Cuomo administration." More committees are to be announced in coming days and will begin meeting as early as next week.

But some observers suggested that the transition team's value was largely symbolic. The economic development committee, for instance, includes Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other top legislative leaders from both parties, as well as a broad cross section of the state's minority and regional notables.

"It's a rainbow coalition that represents special interests from Babylon to Buffalo," said Desmond Ryan, director of the Association for a Better Long Island, a business group.

"I think it's . . . reminiscent of the first Mario Cuomo administration, when he was seeking to try to have a broad appeal to New Yorkers," said Stephen Madarasz, spokesman for the Civil Service Employees Association, the state's largest public-sector union, which has not yet had direct contacts with Cuomo. "Our primary concern is not the big gesture so much as the realpolitik - what is going to be the relationship on the ground with us?"

Other prominent Long Islanders on the list include:

Kenneth Langone, founder of The Home Depot and one of the most vocal enemies of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, after a prosecution Spitzer brought while state attorney general challenging compensation Langone had helped set for the former head of the New York Stock Exchange.

Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association.

Frank Zarb, a prominent Republican who is a former chairman of Nasdaq, the first chairman of NIFA, and the first chairman of the Long Island Power Authority board.

Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP's New York State chapter.

Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), the Senate Republican leader.

Mangano, who shared a podium with Cuomo during the campaign, and declined to endorse or even shake hands with Republican candidate Carl Paladino, was named to Cuomo's committee on economic development and labor.Mangano will need real friendship from Cuomo as the Nassau Interim Finance Authority explores its authority to take over the county's finances.

Notably absent from the team so far is anyone closely identified with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Cuomo's once and possible future adversary for governor.

"We are hopeful that whoever is on the transition team will push for major fiscal reform and ensure that Long Island's best interests are a priority," said Levy late yesterday.