Maisano Chosen To Head County's Consumer Protection Department

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — County Legislator Jim Maisano, R-New Rochelle, has been tapped to become the new commissioner of Westchester County’s Department of Consumer Protection. County Executive George Latimer announced the appointment Friday, Feb. 16.

That puts the District 11 board seat, which Maisano has held for 20 years, in play, and a special election has to be called within 90 days of his resignation, lohud.com said.

According to 2017 county board of elections record, there are twice as many Democrats in Maisano’s New Rochelle district than Republicans.

Since his election to the County Board of Legislators in 1997, Maisano has served in numerous leadership positions, including most recently as vice-vhairman of the Board from 2014 to 2017, and minority leader from 2010 to 2013. For more than two decades as a legislator, Maisano focused on the areas of governmental and fiscal reform, environmental protection and improving municipal recreation and parks. In addition to his public service, Maisano brings a wealth of legal experience to the job. He currently practices law at his own firm in New Rochelle, concentrating his practice on business litigation, real estate, wills, estates and probate actions.

Latimer said he and Maisano have a long history of working together on challenges facing the county.

“He has always advocated for the people of this county based on what he thought was the right thing to do, regardless of politics,” Latimer said. “I look forward to continuing our work together as he heads this department, which serves as the peoples’ watchdog.”

Maisano said he was excited and grateful that Latimer has given him the opportunity.

“It is incredible that George reached across party lines to show that the most important thing is the county of Westchester,” Maisano said. “We have a fabulous county government and everyone, Democrats, Republicans and Independents should be working together to make this an even better county.”

Maisano, raised in New Rochelle, is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he worked as a landing support specialist in embarkation and logistics. Maisano served as platoon sergeant, supervising and training a platoon of marines. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant, and received several awards and commendations during his service to our country.

The Department of Consumer Protection is charged with ensuring a fair and equitable marketplace for consumers through various initiatives including scam alert and protections, licensing of plumbers and electrical engineers, helping consumers find the lowest gasoline and oil prices, ensuring accuracy of weights and measures, protecting consumers from the sale of unsafe children’s products and other programs aimed to ensure fairness to Westchester’s consumers, according to a spokesman.

Maisano will officially begin his new duties Feb. 26.

For more, read lohud.com here.

Photo caption: Jim Maisano, center, at his 2010 Toys for Tots event. Photo credit: Sara B. Caldwell.