Governor Cuomo Announces Administration Nominations

ALBANY, NY (01/06/2011)(readMedia)-- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the following nominations to senior positions within the state government.

Darrel J. Aubertine will be nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The nomination requires confirmation by the State Senate

Mr. Aubertine recently served as State Senator of the 48th Senate District in Central and Northern New York, which is comprised of Oswego, Jefferson and part of St. Lawrence counties. He served as chair of both the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Rural Resources Commission, and as the ranking majority member and vice chair of the Energy & Telecommunications Committee. Before joining the Senate in 2008, Mr. Aubertine represented the 118th Assembly district in the New York State Assembly for five years, where he served as the chair of the Commission on State-Local Relations. From 1996-2001, he was a member of the Jefferson County Legislature and was elected to chair in 1998. Mr. Aubertine's career in government began in 1994, when he served as a member of the Cape Vincent Town Council.

Since 1971, Mr. Aubertine has owned and operated the sixth-generation heritage Triple-A Farm in Cape Vincent, for which he purchased a plot of land while still in high school. Mr. Aubertine has been a member of numerous cooperatives and organizations, including the Cape Vincent Milk Producers, Allied and Eastern, Agway, St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau, the New York State Farm Bureau, and the Dairy Herd Improvement Association.

"Darrel's experience and expertise in agriculture is unparalleled," Governor Cuomo said. "He fought for years on behalf of farmers in the state legislature and delivered real results. New York's agricultural community will thrive with Darrel at the helm of this critical department, and I thank him for his service."

Dean Norton, President of the New York Farm Bureau, said, "We are pleased that Governor Cuomo has selected an individual who has long-standing connections to agriculture and our farm families. Darrel Aubertine has strong roots in the agricultural community and has proven to be a staunch ally through the years. New York Farm Bureau's almost 30,000 members look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and Mr. Aubertine to serve and strengthen agriculture."

Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said, "The North Country has enjoyed Darrel Aubertine's leadership for years on agriculture issues, and now the entire state will benefit from his knowledge and vision. Not only is he an experienced farmer, but he has a very strong command of the issues confronting New York's producers and the opportunities for bolstering agriculture as a key part of a stronger state economy. On top of that, his years in local government and then the State Legislature will help him to effectively turn his knowledge and vision into effective new policies and initiatives. Governor Cuomo has made an excellent choice for agriculture and economic development across our state."

David J. Skorton, President of Cornell University, said, "We congratulate the governor and Mr. Aubertine on this nomination. As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he has already demonstrated his commitment to the success of Upstate's largest industry. Under Darrel's leadership we look forward to continuing Cornell's partnership to support and enhance the food and agriculture industry in New York State."

John S. Dyson will be nominated to serve as a Trustee on the Board of the New York Power Authority. The nomination requires confirmation by the State Senate.

Currently, Mr. Dyson is Chairman of Millbrook Capital Management, Inc., an investment firm whose activities include managing private equity investments and a stock investment fund. From 1997-2001, Mr. Dyson was the Chairman of New York City's Council of Economic Advisors. He was the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Finance in the administration of Mayor Giuliani from 1994 to 1996 and served as the Chairman of the New York Power Authority from 1979 to 1985, where he enhanced the safety and economics of two nuclear power plants then owned and operated by the Authority. Mr. Dyson was Commissioner of Commerce for New York State when the "I Love New York" advertising campaign was created. In 1975, Governor Hugh Carey appointed him to Commissioner of Agriculture of New York State. Mr. Dyson served his country as First Lieutenant, US Army, Military Intelligence for two years. Later, he spent six months in the Pentagon where he worked for the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, US Army.

"John Dyson brings lifelong experience and a deep knowledge of energy issues and economic development to the New York Power Authority," Governor Cuomo said. "New Yorkers can have confidence that with John on the team, energy delivery and allocation will be in good hands. I thank him for his continued service."

Robert B. Catell, Chairman of SUNY Stony Brook's Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center said, "John Dyson, through his extensive public service to New York state in the energy, economic development and business fields, is an excellent choice to serve on the NYPA Board. This is another example of the high caliber people that the new Governor is selecting for these important positions and I wish John good luck in this endeavor."

Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson, said, "Governor Cuomo has made an outstanding choice in John Dyson - a Jeffersonian statesman with unparalleled knowledge and wisdom from years of leadership posts in government, business, and the agricultural sector. Governor Cuomo articulated a bold new vision for New York in his State of the State address. No one is more capable than John Dyson of helping deliver on that vision in the energy sector."

###

Additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov | High resolution images available at http://governor.ny.gov/mediaimages | password: cuomo | New York State | Executive Chamber | press.office@exec.ny.gov | 518.474.8418