Incoming Mercer Executive Dan Benson Unveils Transition Team

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – On Monday, incoming Mercer County Executive Dan Benson unveiled his administration’s Transition Team.

Benson won the Nov. 7 election in a landslide victory.

His new team is spearheaded by proven public servants from all across Mercer County.

Transition Team senior leadership:

• Jeannine Frisby LaRue, Transition Team Co-chair
• Sharon Shinkle Gardner, Transition Team Co-chair
• Mayor Douglas Palmer, Senior Advisor to the Transition Team
• Arthur Sypek, Esq., Legal Counsel to the Transition Team

“Strong leadership is at the heart of every successful administration,” Benson said in a statement.

“Jeannine LaRue, Sharon Gardner, Mayor Douglas Palmer, and Arthur Sypek have decades of experience in public service, and will be instrumental in completing a smooth transition.”

The Mercer County Executive-elect also announced the formation of 17 transition committees, each designed to address vital aspects of the County's growth and well-being.

From economic development to public safety and health, these committees will play a key role in shaping the policies that reflect the diverse needs of our community.

“These transition committees will provide crucial guidance as we get to work moving Mercer forward,” Benson said. “We’ve worked to build diversity into these committees to ensure every corner of Mercer County has a seat at the table.”

Here are the committees and members:

Administration and Office of Executive

• Chair: Anthony “Skip” Cimino
• Brian Quigley, Esq.
• Dr. Yingchao “YZ” Zhang
• David Ponton
• Matt Eventoff

Arts Council

• Chair: Craig Shofed
• Mitzi Hightower-Teel
• Dana Hughes Moorhead
• Latarsha Burke
• Thomas Kelly
• Algernon Ward, Jr.
• Charmi Patel Pena

Community Services

• Chair: Taraun Tice, Esq.
• Joe Forte
• Aditya Bala
• Maeve Cannon, Esq.

• Connie Mercer
• Spencer Lester
• Sean Jackson
• Jeffrey Oakman
• Damian Malave
• Michele Demak Epstein
• Nicole Brossoie

Corrections

• Chair: Robert James
• Tracey Syphax
• Austin Edwards, Esq.
• Ronald McMullen
• Darren “Freedom” Green
• Mark Murranko
• Adam Kaufman
• Juan Rolon

Economic Development

• Chair: Hal English

• George Sowa
• Wendy Sturgeon
• Krystal DeLeon
• Rosa Rosado
• Amir Memon
• Marilyn Silverman
• Rachel Holland
• Dr. Rahsaan Harris
• Pierre Downing

Education/Community College/Libraries

• Chair: Dr. Diane Campbell
• Julie Blake
• Lisa Rizziello
• Edward Bullock
• Nate Howard
• Dr. Channing Conway
• Melanie Schulz
• Leanne Chamberlin
• Dan Siegel

• Shirley Hicks
• John Kroschwitz, II

Finance

• Chair: David Rousseau
• Greg Puliti
• Scott Sillars
• Thomas Hastie, Esq.
• Richard Carabelli, Jr.
• David Healey
• Jo Ann Povia
• Nikki Mosgrove

Improvement Authority & Airport

• Chair: Michael Maloney
• Christiana Foglio
• Christina Lado
• Anthony Davis
• Daniel Brenna
• Roland Pott
• Anthony Pizzutillo

Law

• Chair: Rajvir Goomer, Esq.
• Patrick Kennedy, Esq.
• James Creegan, Esq.
• Palmer Richardson, Esq.
• Dr. Princess Hoagland
• Ana-Eliza Bauersachs, Esq.
• Elissa Grodd Schragger, Esq.

Mental Health & Recovery

• Chair: Jay Redd, Esq.
• Beth Fier
• Marie Verna
• Sabeen Masih
• Marlene Lao-Collins
• Chris Donnelly
• Kelly Ingram

Office Of Executive & Boards

• Chair: Noreen Giblin, Esq.
• Felicia Spitz
• Mary Caffrey
• Julissa Guillen-Davila
• Beth Dohm
• Keith Hamilton

Parks & Public Works

• Chair: Maria Richardson
• Thomas Harrington
• Hector Weah
• Doug Hritz
• Andrew Bobbitt
• Winslow Land
• Manuel Hernandez

Planning, Energy & The Environment

• Chair: Jennifer Coffey
• Grace Strom Power, Esq.
• Mariem Elgendy
• Shereyl Snider
• Marvin Ross
• Jay Vaingankar
• Tammy Sands
• Anjuli Ramos-Busot

Public Safety & Health (Dispatch, OEM & Public Health)

• Chair: Ana Montero
• Nick Buroczi
• Gil Lugossy
• Tomika Sommers
• Jackie Cornell
• Pedro Medina
• Brady Rivera
• Stephanie Pratico
• Kenneth Douglas
• Marcela Ospina Maziarz
• Reba Holley
• Scott McCormick

Seniors

• Chair: Annette Lartigue
• Amy Bauman
• Hazel Stewart
• Charles Lavine
• Marianne Colavita
• Cordelia Staton

Transportation

• Chair: Steven Gardner
• Brian Blakely
• Ron Sabol
• Karen Bellamy Lewis
• Robert Dorio
• Sigmund Zegarski, Jr.
• Jermaine Huell

Veterans

• Chair: Larry Rosenthal
• Roberto Hernandez
• Lance Lopez
• Rick Kline

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