New City Hall budget director expected as Mamdani prepares to announce new appointments.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to announce several key appointments for his incoming administration this week, with expectations that he will reveal his choice for the City Hall budget chief among other critical roles. Sources close to the transition have indicated that Mamdani’s first deputy mayor, Dean Fuleihan, mentioned during a forum organized by the Citizens Budget Commission that more personnel announcements will come shortly—though specifics on which positions remain unconfirmed.
Insight from knowledgeable insiders suggests that Sherif Soliman, a well-regarded figure in city governance, is the frontrunner to head the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Soliman possesses a wealth of experience, having previously held significant roles under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, including serving as the commissioner of the Department of Finance. More recently, he acted as chief policy officer in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration before resigning this past fall to assume the role of chief financial officer at the City University of New York.
Apart from the pivotal OMB position, Mamdani has yet to finalize appointments for other high-ranking positions, including the schools chancellor and various deputy mayors. Notably, the last personnel decision publicly announced was on November 19, when Mamdani confirmed Jessica Tisch’s continuation as NYPD commissioner. The preceding week had seen the appointments of Fuleihan as first deputy mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as chief of staff, marking only the third and fourth senior-level hires since the election.
Despite speculation concerning delays in Mamdani’s transition team, Fuleihan refuted claims of setbacks, asserting that they are on track with their timeline. Comparatively, at a similar juncture in the transition period for Mayor Adams in 2021, only two top appointments had been made.
A spokesperson for Mamdani declined to comment on the potential appointment of Soliman, who has been identified previously as a strong candidate for the OMB role. The OMB director plays a crucial role in shaping the city’s financial strategy and is instrumental during negotiations with the City Council regarding the municipal budget. With a preliminary budget proposal due by the end of January for the 2027 fiscal year, the selected OMB director will be pivotal in guiding the administration’s financial blueprint and responding to challenges from the City Council, particularly in light of prior budgetary controversies under Adams’ tenure.
As the countdown to Mamdani’s inauguration on January 1 approaches, all eyes will be on these forthcoming appointments and the direction in which his administration intends to steer the city financially.
