Power Players in the 2022 Elections

Thomas P. DiNapoli was raised in Long Island in a middle-class, union household. He won his first election at 18 to serve as a trustee on the Mineola Board of Education. Comptroller DiNapoli went on to attend Hofstra University and The New School and worked in the telecommunications industry. His career in state service began when he was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he represented Northwestern Nassau County. In 2007, DiNapoli was elected State Comptroller by the state Legislature and has since been re-elected by voters in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
I came of age in the late sixties and early seventies. The war in Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement and leaders like John and Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired me to get more involved in changing the world. I saw public service as a way to make positive change in my community while standing up for the values that I believe in, such as hard work, faith, and fighting inequality.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today? 
These are tough economic times for working families. Inflation is rising across the country and the cost of living has gone up. Many communities are struggling to reach a full economic recovery post-pandemic. This is particularly true in New York, where poverty levels are worse than the national average and we are facing an affordable housing crisis. Through audits and reports, my office is drawing attention and action to the hardships that New Yorkers face, all while protecting the New York State retirement system.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
Now that the elections are over, I’m looking forward to continuing the work that I have done for the past 15 years. I believe that I have the best job in state government, and every day that I get to work on behalf of New Yorkers is a gift. In 2023, I particularly look forward to my office’s continued focus on New Yorkers in need and helping our state and city navigate uncertain economic times.

Dynamic SRG is consistently recognized as a top political fundraising and public affairs firm, implementing successful development strategies for progressive candidates and causes in New York City. Their team drives results for a wide variety of clients including individuals, organizations, PACs, party committees, and campaigns at the city, state, and federal levels. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
Elections have consequences and helping get good people elected is one of the best ways to support and improve your community.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
We are concerned with the low participation in elections. Fewer people are voting and this allows unpopular ideas and candidates to flourish.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over? 
Elections in NYC are never over. Candidates running for City Council have to start now, to pass petitions in February and win the primary in June.

Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein, a lifelong Borough Park resident and graduate of New York’s yeshiva system, was first elected in November 2018. Prior to his election, Eichenstein served on Mayor de Blasio’s legislative affairs team in Albany and as part of the mayor’s intergovernmental staff at City Hall. During this time, Eichenstein played a crucial role in advocating for budgetary and legislative priorities and was instrumental in helping pass many pieces of legislation that were vital to New York City. Before joining the mayor’s team, Eichenstein served as a senior aide to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics? 
My career in public service began as a teenager. When my neighbor experienced bureaucratic difficulties and feared he’d be forced to shutter his business, I was deeply committed to helping him, even though I knew nothing about politics then. I was bothered by the municipality’s lack of support, and ultimately, I helped save his business. That was my first taste of public service. Politics can be brutal, but what’s most fulfilling is helping a random stranger in a meaningful way.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today? 
There are many pressing issues that need immediate action and the key to resolving them is a renewed focus on working together. We live in an extremely polarized society, where many demonize those who don’t agree with them 100% of the time. Until we are willing to listen to one another, understand each other, and respect each other’s views and opinions, nothing will get done. Making a commitment to respect and understanding is the single most important thing we can do to ensure our future success.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
Unfortunately, during the tumultuous election season, the extreme voices on both sides tend to be very loud, making it more difficult for compromise. For the sake of our citizens’ safety and security, I am hopeful we can get back to governing.

Alexander Elmasri serves as executive director for the New York Senate Democrats. Elmasri was appointed to this role in 2021 after serving as political director for the 2020 election cycle. Within this role, Elmasri works alongside senators and members of executive leadership who are striving towards achieving a majority in the State Senate that will pass laws to improve the lives of every New Yorker. Elmasri graduated from SUNY New Paltz.

Late in 2020 Marc Zdanow founded Engage Voters U.S. and brought in seasoned political veterans Stuart Osnow and Jerry Skurnik as Senior Political Consultants. Stu and Jerry had worked together for over 30 years in New York politics dating back to primary roles with Ed Koch’s mayoral campaign. Their experience with voter data is unmatched. Engage Voters U.S. is a national technology based company offering extensive voter data analytics and micro targeting in order to engage voters using a suite of services ranging from digital marketing to social media & websites as well as print and telephone.

Richard Fife is a former Campaigns & Elections magazine ‘Rising Star’ in American political consulting who was named one of the top ten New York political consultants this year. He started his career with the Garth Group and has gone on to develop strategy and produce media for mayoral, congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial, and presidential campaigns in more than 15 states. Most recently, he served as a strategist and communications consultant to the winning campaigns of Congressman Dan Goldman, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and Senator Robert Jackson’s election and re-election. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
Growing up in turbulent times and in a political family, this career was more a calling than a business move–a chance to work with good people and good causes and to do good things to fight injustice, create opportunity, and build a better future. It is what motivated me then, and still motivates me today.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
For better or worse, these days elections are never over.

A native New Yorker, Beth Finkel leads AARP New York on behalf of its over 2.3 million members. Under Beth’s leadership, AARP NY has accomplished historic statewide reforms that protect the finances, healthcare services, housing, and voting rights of New York’s 50-plus population. She has led efforts to combat hunger among older adults and ensure low-income New Yorkers gain access to Medicare Savings benefits. Disrupt Disparities, the holistic approach Beth conceived and launched to take on inequities in health, economic security, and livable communities of 50-plus populations, is now an AARP-wide enterprise initiative.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
Not politics, but instead policy! I have always wanted to improve systems, rather than fix problems for people one at a time. I have always been passionate about getting to the core of the problem and fixing it systemically. Even as a young child, I would write letters to CEOs to get them to change things and sign my mother’s name to them, hence my nickname became Crusader Rabbit!

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
Strengthening Social Security and Medicare and ensuring that those benefits vital to the well-being of tens of millions of Americans are protected for years to come. A recent AARP survey found that 90% of older New Yorkers want to count on adequate Social Security and Medicare benefits. AARP works to protect and strengthen the Social Security benefits that Americans have paid into and earned through years of hard work. And AARP continues to urge Congress to protect and improve Medicare, a program Americans have paid into their entire working lives.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
No political commercials and texts! Now is my favorite time: all the players are in place, ready to roll up their sleeves, and AARP is ready with our agenda, so we can all get to work!

Jennifer is the co-chief of campaigns for the Center for Popular Democracy. She is the co-founder and former executive director of VOCAL-NY, and also previously served as the director of Health GAP. Jennifer has received awards from The Metropolitan Council on Housing, Union Square Award, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Gay City News, and the New York City Council. She is on the board of the North Star Fund, Health GAP, and the Coalition for Human Needs.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
My sister had Down syndrome. Because of her, I was always aware of how people at the center of the pain are left out of policy creation because of who holds political power. It drove me towards community organizing as a way to shift who has political power. The Center for Popular Democracy is my political home because of the commitment to building power for people who have been left out of political discourse.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
When people call this a laundry list, I like to remind them that we aren’t dressed until we are wearing our shirt, our pants, socks, and shoes. We need all of these things. We need Medicare for All. We need to get banks to divest from fossil fuels. We need to address the housing crisis that we are currently facing. We need to continue to move policies that would address the systemic racism in our country. Lastly, our democracy is in grave danger.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
I am looking forward to building a base of people that are ready to take to the streets to fight back against the rise of authoritarianism and to get us to the place where we can start to commit to ensuring that the things we need to survive are public goods like healthcare, education, housing and a clean environment. Right now, we can’t win those things.

Randall Franklin is a political consultant in New York City who aims to have an impact on voter turnout and has worked on campaigns in every borough and the surrounding metro area. Randall has been instrumental in many local campaigns, most notably serving as a consultant on Max Rose’s 2018 Congressional campaigns, Assembly Member Chantel Jackson’s 2020 campaign, Council Member Kamilah Hanks’ 2021 campaign, and State Senator Robert Jackson’s 2022 campaign. His life goal is helping to build lasting infrastructures of strong voter turnout in all communities across the city, especially communities that are traditionally underprivileged. Randall specializes in connecting voters with campaigns that are looking to uplift and push forward a proactive and genuine platform that addresses unique community needs regardless of their political affiliation.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
My interest in pursuing a career in politics began with my public service work in college. I served as vice president of my student government and representative of the SUNY Student Assembly. I also participated in canvassing events for congressional campaigns in the Rochester New York area. It was this work that demonstrated just how impactful elections can be for everyday people in my community.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
I believe one of the biggest issues facing the United States today is immigration and mass incarceration. Both not only impact people of color but the communities with lower income residents. Here in New York City we face an unparalleled crisis that promises to have catastrophic impacts on residents if proper legislation is not created and middle ground found by politicians. Without these we may see a dip in services resulting in a loss of quality of life in New York City.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
First is my role as the son of two hard-working parents. My parents have taken care of me, giving me every opportunity I need to succeed, and in return, I want to make sure I am there for them as they get older. Moreover, I also look forward to becoming a professional athlete through powerlifting! I currently hold the NY deadlift record for 181 lbs and aim to take the squat record in 2023.

Brian Lenzmeier and Claudia Stankiewicz served as Campaign Manager and Campaign Chief of Staff for Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2022 campaign. Prior to this, Lenzmeier managed campaigns for gubernatorial candidates in Maryland and Montana and also served as Hochul’s research director on her congressional campaign in 2011. Stankiewicz has extensive experience in politics, previously serving as a legislative correspondent for Congressman Anthony Brindisi and Congressman Jimmy Panetta and as field director for the New York State Democratic Committee.