Spitzer Is Set To Hire Albany, Press Liaisons

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

Governor Spitzer is poised to bring in two new staffers, a veteran Albany lobbyist who will act as a senior liaison between the governor and the Legislature and a former Newsday reporter who will take over as press secretary, sources said.

The additions would be the most significant staff changes since the governor became embroiled in the state police controversy in July that ultimately cost the job of his long-time communications director, Darren Dopp, who has since joined an Albany lobbying firm. Mr. Spitzer, who is struggling to push his agenda through a Legislature that has often been critical of his hard-charging leadership style, is set to bring on board Bruce Gyory, a former aide to governors Cuomo and Carey. Mr. Gyory is known for his institutional knowledge of Albany politics and has developed a closer relationship with Mr. Spitzer in the past year.

Mr. Gyory is a lobbyist at the law firm of Hinman Straub. The firm’s Web site said Mr. Gyory’s clients include Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America, Associated Medical Schools of New York, NYSERNet, TransCanada, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Iroquois, NYSADC, and Hillside.

Errol Cockfield is poised to become the no. 2 person in Mr. Spitzer’s press operation, assuming the job of press secretary. Mr. Spitzer’s current press secretary, Christine Anderson, is expected to be promoted to communications director.

The job opened up when Mr. Spitzer suspended Mr. Dopp this summer in the wake of a report by the state attorney general’s office that alleged administration officials inappropriately used the state police for partisan purposes. Mr. Cockfield, who joined the Spitzer administration as press secretary for the Empire State Development Corp. in February, was previously a reporter for Newsday, where he ran the newspaper’s Albany bureau and covered real estate and economic development.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use