The following is an expanded version of the second item from my “Albany Insider” column from Monday’s print editions:
ALBANY — As the Democrats get set to control the state Senate for the first time in a decade, incoming Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has put her together team.
“The strong, diverse leadership team I am appointing will help advance the Senate Democratic majority’s agenda and give New York the progressive, responsive government it deserves,” Stewart-Cousins said.
Alejandra Paulino, who had been a lawyer for the Senate Democrats, has been named to the powerful post of Senate secretary, becoming the first Hispanic woman to hold the position.
The Senate secretary oversees the administrative side of the chamber.
Shontell Smith, who in 2013 became the first black woman to be named counsel to a state legislative conference, has been promoted to chief of staff and head counsel.
Smith will be the first African American to serve as a majority conference chief of staff.
Stewart-Cousins, the Yonkers Democrat who will become the first black woman to lead a state legislative majority conference in New York, dipped into the governor’s office for the Senate Dems’ new finance secretary.
The role is going to Todd Scheuermann, who has worked in the state budget office under the last five governors, starting with Mario Cuomo.
Mike Murphy, who since 2011 has served as the Democratic minority’s communications director, will continue on in the role in the majority.
“Our conference members and leadership team have already broken barriers and glass ceilings and I know we will accomplish great things over the upcoming legislative session,” Stewart-Cousins said.
