Mayor de Blasio Names Jon Paul Lupo as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

January 11, 2018

Sherif Soliman named Senior Advisor to the First Deputy Mayor, Simonia Brown named Director of State Legislative Affairs, and Jeff Lynch named Director of City Legislative Affairs

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio has named Jon Paul Lupo as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Sherif Soliman as Senior Advisor for the First Deputy Mayor, Simonia Brown as Director of State Legislative Affairs, and Jeff Lynch as Director of City Legislative Affairs.

“We’re building a world-class team to help make New York City stronger and fairer than ever before,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Jon Paul, Sherif, Simonia and Jeff are extraordinarily talented public servants who work tirelessly on behalf of our city. I am thrilled to have them playing senior roles in our second-term agenda."

Jon Paul Lupo has been promoted to Director of the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, where he will be responsible for coordinating the City's interaction with the City, State and Federal Legislative Affairs Offices, as well as coordinating with the offices of the City Comptroller, Public Advocate and Borough Presidents. Lupo was previously Director of City Legislative Affairs and was responsible for managing the Administration’s interactions with the City Council and coordinating legislative priorities. Prior to his time in the Mayor’s Office, Lupo had more than a decade of experience in government, politics and communications, including as Chief of Staff to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and in senior positions on the campaigns of Senator Jim Webb in Virginia and Senator Tim Johnson in South Dakota.

Sherif Soliman was named Senior Advisor to the First Deputy Mayor, where he will advise the First Deputy Mayor on policy, program implementation and special projects.  His work will include but not be limited to labor, pensions, tax policy and public authorities. Soliman previously served as Director of State Legislative Affairs, where he was responsible for coordinating legislative priorities and the team that serves as a liaison between the Administration and the State Senate and Assembly. Soliman has over two decades of experience working in city and state government in different capacities, including the completion of thirteen state legislative sessions in Albany. In his most recent role as Director of State Legislative Affairs for Mayor Bill de Blasio, Soliman secured several victories on behalf of the City of New York including the enactment of the City’s nation-leading universal pre-kindergarten program.

Simonia Brown was named Director of State Legislative Affairs and will coordinate legislative priorities and manage the team that liaises with the State Legislature. Simonia Brown currently serves as an Associate Director at the Office of Management and Budget. During her tenure, she managed the Education and CUNY budgets, Intergovernmental Relations, and Community Board Relations. Before joining OMB, Brown worked for nine years in the New York State Assembly, serving as Senior Assistant Secretary for Program & Policy to the Speaker and Assembly Leadership, making policy recommendations for Assembly Standing Committees and leading numerous budget and policy negotiations.

Additionally, Jeff Lynch will now serve as Director of City Legislative Affairs. Lynch was previously First Deputy Commissioner of the Community Affairs Unit, where he provided crucial support to the Commissioner in managing day-to-day operations and coordinating staff and community interactions. Before that, he served as Assistant Commissioner of Intergovernmental Affairs at Department of Transportation, and Chief of Staff to Council Member James Vacca for 8 years.