Lancman Leaves City Council To Join Cuomo Administration

KEW GARDENS HILLS, QUEENS — City Council Member Rory Lancman is giving up his seat representing a square of Central Queens for a newly-created position in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration.

Lancman will serve as the state's first special counsel for ratepayer protection, holding utility and telecom companies accountable to their customers, Cuomo announced Friday.

In his new role, Lancman will review the performance of all utilities in New York — from electricity to natural gas to telecommunications — and assess whether they are complying with renewable energy goals and standards.

"Every New Yorker should be able to turn on the lights, heat their homes and open their faucets to clean water because their electricity, gas and water providers are meeting their obligations to provide safe, reliable, and affordable service as the law requires," Lancman said in a statement. "I'm honored by the Governor's appointment and grateful for his commitment to holding New York's utilities and telecoms accountable to their most important constituency — the rate paying public."

Lancman, who would have been term-limited out of office next year, was elected in 2013 to represent New York City’s 24th City Council District, which covers parts of Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills and Jamaica.

Last year, he ran to become next Queens district attorney but dropped out days before the primary election and endorse Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, the party pick.

In an interview with the Queens Daily Eagle, Lancman denied that the job offer had anything to do with his last-minute exit from the race.

Cuomo had backed Katz, who won the election by a 60-vote margin over candidate Tiffany Cabán.

“People shouldn’t have their minds filled with conspiracy theories,” Lancman told the Eagle. “When I dropped out there were no offers or anything. It was the right thing to do and the realpolitik thing to do.”