Laura Curran makes key staff changes

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is making key staffing changes in the new year.

Mike Santeramo, Curran’s director of government affairs, has become deputy county executive for government relations and communications, a new post.

Before joining the Curran administration at the start of 2018, Santeramo was deputy commissioner for Democrats on the Nassau County Board of Elections and executive director of the county’s Democratic Committee. His salary will rise from $158,000 to $160,000.

Christine Geed is director of communications, replacing Michael Martino. Geed, who will report to Santeramo, previously worked as communications specialist and deputy chief of staff for New York State Senate central staff. Her salary will be $148,000.

Geed handled communications for state Sens. Tom Croci (R-Sayville) and Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore). She reported to then-Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-East Northport), now minority leader. 

Geed also was a spokeswoman for the Half Hollow Hills School District.

Jordan Carmon and Justine DiGiglio have also joined the Curran administration as senior communications advisers, joining press secretary Karen Contino and Melissa Marciano, assistant to the director.

Carmon served previously as deputy press secretary in the state attorney general’s office. DiGiglio was a senior account executive with  a Manhattan public relations firm, Nicholas & Lence Communications. 

Martino is headed to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he'll serve as the $179,000-a-year director of community affairs. The Nassau Health Care Corp. board approved his hiring at its monthly meeting Thursday night.

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.