Former Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll has been nominated as the next executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority. Driscoll has been serving as commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation. Pending State Senate confirmation, he’ll replace Bill Finch as executive director of the Thruway Authority. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced that he’ll nominate Matthew Driscoll to serve as executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority.
Driscoll, a former mayor of Syracuse, has been serving as commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation.
Besides the Driscoll nomination, Cuomo also announced that Cathy Calhoun, another Central New Yorker, will serve as acting commissioner of the state Transportation Department, Cuomo’s office said in a news release issued Tuesday.
If confirmed by the New York Senate, Driscoll will replace Bill Finch as executive director of the Thruway Authority. Finch, a former mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was appointed executive director of the authority in June 2016. The position pays $175,000 a year, according to the See Through NY website. Driscoll’s current job pays $136,000.
About Driscoll
As transportation commissioner, Driscoll helped launch Cuomo’s $100 billion, five-year plan to “renew New York’s aging infrastructure.”
Prior to that, Driscoll served as president and CEO of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. He has also held a number of cabinet positions in Cuomo’s administration, including co-chair of the New York State Storm Recovery Task Force; member of the strategic implementation assessment team to assist in the progress of the regional economic-development council; and board member of the financial-restructuring board, which helps New York municipalities under fiscal stress.
Prior to his service at the state level, Driscoll was twice elected mayor of the City of Syracuse.
The Thruway Authority board of directors will meet to name Driscoll as acting executive director of the authority, although Cuomo’s office didn’t indicate when that meeting would happen.
Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County executive, is chair of the Thruway Authority board. Driscoll defeated her in the 2005 Syracuse mayoral election.
Driscoll will also be nominated for official Senate confirmation in January, according to Cuomo’s office.
About Calhoun
As acting transportation commissioner, Calhoun will lead Cuomo’s $100 billion, five-year infrastructure plan to help reduce congestion and air pollution, and improve the safety of motorists on New York roads.
She previously served as chief of staff at the state Transportation Department, Cuomo’s office said.
Calhoun also previously was a Central New York representative for former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. And, she previously worked for former Gov. David Paterson in intergovernmental affairs.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has nominated former Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll as the next executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority. Driscoll has been serving as commission of the New York State Department of Transportation. Pending State Senate confirmation, he’ll replace Bill Finch as executive director of the Thruway Authority. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo)
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