Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that Kevin Sheekey, who served as Deputy Mayor for Government Affairs during his second term, will leave City government this spring. Sheekey has been one of the Mayor’s closest advisors for 13 years and has served as the Mayor’s chief political aide and New York City’s chief lobbyist since 2006. As Deputy Mayor, Sheekey advanced an aggressive city, state, and federal legislative and public policy agenda that resulted in the reauthorization of mayoral control of schools, the passage of major legislation – including a comprehensive green buildings bill – to advance the most wide-reaching sustainability program at any level of government, and more equitable treatment of the City in state and federal budgets, among other accomplishments. Sheekey was also the chief architect of successful efforts to broaden New York City’s legislative and public policy footprint by developing coalitions and building relationships with Mayors, Governors, and leaders in Congress and the White House.

“Kevin helped lead the way as this Administration advanced our education, sustainability, housing, immigration, and fiscal responsibility agendas,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “He has had his hand in just about everything we’ve done over the past four years – and we’ve been smarter, more strategic, and more successful due to his efforts.”

“It has been inspiring and an immense privilege to work for Mayor Bloomberg, someone who has always been willing to search for a new approach and use the bully pulpit to fight for New York City,” said Kevin Sheekey.  “He is the rare person who has innovated in business and government at a level few can ever expect to attain in either.”

In one of his first acts as Deputy Mayor, Sheekey designed and implemented a strategy that resulted in New York State providing more than $6 billion to New York City – funding half of the largest school capital construction campaign in New York history – in settlement of the capital portion of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit.  In 2008, Sheekey’s efforts resulted in New York City ending its relationship with the cash-and management-challenged Off Track Betting, removing billions of dollars in liabilities from the City’s books and taking the City out of the business of gambling.

Sheekey re-joined the Administration in 2006 after running the Mayor’s successful reelection effort.  Prior to the campaign, he was the President and CEO of the City Host Committee for the 2004 Republican National Convention.  In 2002, he led the successful bid to win the national convention. Sheekey also launched the Mayor’s first election effort in 2001, and before that worked at Bloomberg L.P. from 1997 to 2001. For a decade, Sheekey also served on Capitol Hill where he was Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and also oversaw the Senator’s reelection efforts; and served as Chief of Staff and Legislative Assistant to Rep. James H. Scheuer.

Bloomberg L.P. announced today that Sheekey will return to the company. He will also advise Mayor Bloomberg on his philanthropic endeavors.

When Sheekey leaves City service, Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler will oversee government affairs during a transition period, after which they will report to Howard Wolfson, who will then become a Deputy Mayor.  Mr. Wolfson has worked in Washington DC for over a decade, including as chief of staff to Rep. Nita Lowey and as executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  He has advised many elected officials including: Senator Charles E. Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.