ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Senate confirmed two former state lawmakers Wednesday to lead the Department of State and the state’s public finance and construction authority.
Senators confirmed Walter T. Mosley as secretary of state and Robert J. Rodriguez, formerly secretary of state, as president and chief executive officer of the Dormitory Authority of the state of New York. Both are former assemblymen.As secretary of state, Mosley is primarily responsible for regulating certain businesses and professions in the state, as well as keeping track of state records and local laws.
Rodriguez will oversee the agency that helps provide finance and construction services to universities, courts and other public facilities. The agency also oversaw a state cannabis program that helped disadvantaged people start legal cannabis businesses in New York, which Rodriguez was appointed to the role by the agency’s board of directors, and began working in an acting role on May 8.
State Sen. Liz Krueger, a Democrat who voted for both candidates, said she’s known them for many years and is pleased they are continuing in public service.Khan is a statehouse reporter for The Associated Press, based in Albany, New York. She is a Report for America corps member.