FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release #078-00
Thursday, March 2, 2000
Contact: Sunny Mindel/ Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced the appointment of Robert M. Harding as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Finance. Mr. Harding will leave his current post as the Director of the New York City Office of Management and Budget immediately to assume this position.
"As the Chief Financial Officer for the City of New York Bob Harding has managed the City's operating and capital budgets and worked closely with each of our City's agencies," said Mayor Giuliani. "Bob has overseen the City's budget which continues to keep the growth in City spending below the rate of inflation, cut taxes to stimulate continued record job growth and economic development, and produced another year of operating surpluses.
"In his previous position as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Bob's advocacy in Albany helped the City build one of its best economies in decades. Bob's appointment today as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Finance is a natural progression. His experience, dedication, and knowledge of the budget, City agencies and legislative process will help ensure that our past successes become permanent and that New York City remains the Capital of the World," the Mayor concluded.
Mr. Harding will assume responsibility for ensuring a coordinated effort with respect to the economic development policies of the Administration, including oversight of the Economic Development Corporation and future labor negotiations.
"I would like to thank the Mayor for the opportunity to further serve the people of New York City and for the added confidence he has placed in me," said Mr. Harding. "New York City is a better place to live today then it has been in years thanks to Mayor Giuliani. Just last year the City had its strongest private sector job growth in its history, while economic development programs from Harlem to St. George have made New York City a better place to work, live, and visit. I'm looking forward to building on the past successes of the Administration and look forward to the opportunities to make New York City an even better place for New Yorkers."
Mr. Harding has served as Director of the New York City Office of Management and Budget since July 1998. During this period Mr. Harding was responsible for the development of the Mayor's Preliminary and Executive Budgets. He also served as an advisor to the Mayor on policy issues affecting the City's fiscal stability and the effectiveness of City services.
In January 1998, Mr. Harding was named the Director of the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. In that capacity he had oversight responsibility for all City legislative matters in Washington, in Albany and with the City Council. In January of 1994, he was named Director of State Legislative Affairs where he represented the Mayor and City agencies before the Governor, the State Legislature and State agencies, and also was responsible for reviewing all State legislation affecting the City.
Prior to that role, Mr. Harding served as Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the New York State Facilities Development Corporation. From 1991 to 1993, he served as the General Counsel and Officer of the New York State Science and Technology Foundation. Mr. Harding also served as Counsel to Speaker Pro Tem William F. Passannante of the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 1990. In addition, he maintained a private law practice.
From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Harding was an adjunct clinical professor of law at Albany Law School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1978. In 1982, he received his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.
Mr. Harding is married to Frances Sulzberger Harding and they have two daughters, Rachael and Madeline. He succeeds Randy L. Levine, who left the position this past January for the private sector. He will earn $156,000 per year.