Cuomo's Top Comp Adviser to Head Human Rights Campaign

Thursday, June 27, 2019 | 0

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's chief adviser on workers' compensation, civil rights and other issues is leaving the post after nine years to head the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay-rights advocacy group, according to news reports.

Alphonso David

Alphonso David, who has worked with Cuomo since Cuomo was New York attorney general, was selected to oversee the workers' compensation system early in the governor's tenure. That included input on a novel plan to provide financing for small businesses that had been stuck with comp claims after their group insurance trusts became insolvent, six appointments to the state Workers' Compensation Board, and significant comp legislation.

David also served as deputy secretary and counsel for civil rights in Cuomo's administration.

“It’s been the pleasure of a lifetime to serve this administration with the most dedicated, hardest working elected official in the state and in the nation,” David said in a statement. “I was fortunate enough to start working with Gov. Cuomo in the attorney general’s office and to continue our work together in the governor’s office, where I had the privilege of working on the marriage equality law and several other important pieces of legislation.”

David, who graduated from the University of Maryland and Temple University Law School, also has worked as an adjunct law professor at Yeshiva University.

“Make no mistake, New Yorkers are better off today because of his years of public service, and we will miss him tremendously,” Cuomo said in a statement. “I wish him the best on this new and exciting chapter and am proud to consider him always a part of Team Cuomo.”

David will join the Human Rights Campaign in August, news reports said. Cuomo did not indicate when he may name a replacement.