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Westchester Legislator Tapped To Lead 17-Member Latimer Transition Team

This story has been updated.

Ken Jenkins and George Latimer

Ken Jenkins and George Latimer

Photo Credit: File

Westchester County Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat defeated by state Sen. George Latimer during the September primary election, will lead Latimer's transition to become the next Westchester County executive.

Latimer also asked John Nonna, a former mayor of Pleasantville and former county legislator, to help lead his transition. 

Another 15 members of the core transition team are expected to be named this week, according to a Latimer campaign aide.

Latimer defeated Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a two-term incumbent, by 57 to 43 percent in Tuesday's election..

Latimer's campaign put out a statement announcing Jenkins' appointment to lead the transition team online here: 

Latimer, a Democrat from Rye, was a county legislator himself early in his political career. 

Jenkins serves the county's 16th District in Yonkers and is a former chairman of the county Board of Legislators. Voter turnout was especially strong in Yonkers and Latimer's hometown of Mount Vernon in last Tuesday's upset over Astorino, a Republican from Mount Pleasant.

Each transition team member will lead an issues group committee of up to 12 members to review the policies and issues in separate areas of county government.

Transition departments/specialties/issues include:

-- :Criminal Justice Services: Probation; Public Safety; Corrections; Emergency Services; Fire Training

-- Health Services: including Health Department, Mental Health. Opioids. Labs & Research

-- Social Services: including the Department of Social Services. Senior Citizen programs. Youth Bureau.Veterans. Consumer Protection. Human Rights Commission. Office for Women. LGBT issues.

-- Economic Development Services: Planning. Industrial Development Agency,. Jobs. Tourism. Housing. Minority-Women Business Enterprise.

-- Operations Services: including Public Works, Parks/Playland,. Transportation. Airport. Community College. Solid Waste, Taxi & LC.

-- Administrative Services including the county Budget, Law. Finance. Human Resources. Information Technology, Tax Commission. Intergovernmental Relations.

These committees will engage another 60 to 70 residents, according to Latimer, looking at short- and long-range issues. Some of the committee meetings will include opportunities for public comment. 

There may be policies or issues not specified above. Committees are empowered to go beyond their initial categories to take on new turf, Latimer said.

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