Common Cause NY urges confirmation of Nadia Shihata

DOI Commissioner candidate well qualified

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NEW YORK, NY (04/16/2026) (readMedia)-- Common Cause NY Executive Directopr Susan Lerner issued the following statement regarding the qualifications of Nadia Shihata to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Investigation (DOI) for the City of New York:

"The questions that have been raised regarding Ms. Shihata's confirmation as DOI Commissioner are unrelated to her professional qualifications, which appeear to be stellar. Rather, questions have been raised about her rather limited political activities as a private citizen. We apply uniform standards in determining whether any nominee's political activities are disqualifying. Ms. Shibata's support as an ordinary citizen for Zohran Mamdani's candidacy for mayor is far from the insider activities that Common Cause NY finds disqualifying. We urge the Council to confirm Ms. Shihata as DOI Commissioner.".

BACKGROUND:

In assessing the impact a candidate's political activities should have on confirmation, Common Cause NY considers the following activities to be disqualifying:

(1) Current service or service within the past five years as an officer or member of the governing body of a national, state or local political party.

(2) Being a paid consultant or employee of a federal, state or local elected official or political candidate of a federal, state or local political candidate's campaign or of a political party, legislative caucus or action committee; or

(3) Made political contributions totaling $1000 or more to any one political candidate, political party, party housekeeping account and/or any Political Action Committee in the last four years from the date of application, regardless of jurisdiction

The Memorandum of Support which Common Cause NY provided to members of the City Council is attached.