Top official Sylvia Diaz picked as Suffolk's interim social services commissioner as search gets underway

Deputy County Executive Sylvia Diaz will serve as acting commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services as the officials conduct a search for its permanent replacement, County Executive Edward P. Romaine told Newsday.

Romaine on Wednesday confirmed Diaz will oversee the department when current Commissioner John Imhof’s resignation takes effect Friday.

Diaz will oversee an approximately 1,300-person department that operates a $726 million budget and oversees Child Protective Services, SNAP, homelessness services, Medicaid and other units. Her interim appointment comes as the department faces heavy scrutiny dating to the prior administration for its handling of cases of child abuse and neglect.

Romaine said when he was elected that reforming the department was a priority. A recent state report found CPS was not at fault in the case of 7-year-old Jor'Dynn Duncan, who prosecutors said was abused by her legal guardian and died in December.

Diaz, 64, of Smithtown, currently serves as deputy county executive for health, human resources and education. Romaine appointed her to the position when he took office in 2024.

At an unrelated news conference in Huntington, Romaine said experience will be a key qualification in the search for the department's next leader.

"We are looking at several candidates," he said Wednesday. "We want to make sure we get the right person."

The department’s commissioner is appointed by the county executive to a five-year term, subject to the Suffolk Legislature's confirmation, according to the county charter. The commissioner, who can begin in an acting role for 90 days, likely would face questions from lawmakers in the Seniors and Human Services Committee. If approved by that committee, the full legislature would vote to accept the nomination. Imhof was approved 17-0 with one member absent in June 2024.

"I always find experience to be the best predictor of what’s to come next," Romaine said.

There is no timeline for when the next commissioner would be appointed, officials said.

Diaz served as the department’s acting commissioner at the beginning of 2024 before Imhof’s appointment. She's held several county roles, including starting in 2000 as the department’s chief deputy commissioner. In 2003, she became the regional vice president for the American Cancer Society.

Legis. Steven Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), who chairs the Seniors and Human Services Committee, said the department will be in "great hands" under Diaz since she's "been integrally involved every day since she started over two years ago with the county."

Before becoming deputy county executive, Diaz was executive director of the Suffolk Community College Foundation, a role she began in 2013.

Diaz earned $215,858 last year, according to county payroll records.

Imhof, 81, of Bethpage, has led the department for the past two years. He announced his resignation last week in an email to social services employees. He cited "personal health reasons" for his departure. Imhof previously was Nassau's social services commissioner.

Anne Marie Sexton, Imhof's chief deputy commissioner, also announced her retirement, effective July 24. She has worked for the county since 1997.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the minority leader, said in a statement he hopes to see a "transparent and collaborative selection process," adding that it should be "a bipartisan effort."

He said the next commissioner should be a "proven executive with experience leading a large, complex human services organization, and someone committed to transparency, accountability, and collaboration with our school districts and courts."

Terry Maccarrone, president of the Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees, which represents a large portion of social services employees, told Newsday the union’s hope is for the county to select someone who "empowers our membership" and can ensure "workers are able to do their job properly, have the equipment that they need, have the training that they need, have the support that they need to serve the people."

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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