DiFiore Resigns as Head of JCOPE; Horowitz Appointed to Serve as Chair

The state’s ethics and lobbying oversight entity is getting a new leader.

Governor Cuomo announced today that he has appointed Daniel J. Horowitz to serve as a Chair of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE). Mr. Horowitz is a partner at Lanker & Carragher, LLP, a New York City law firm that specializes in litigation. He is not new to JCOPE, having been appointed to serve as a member by Gov. Cuomo in December 2011.

JCOPE’s current Chair, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, is leaving the commission as she prepares to run for re-election this fall. Ms. DiFiore is the only person to have served as JCOPE Chair.

In his statement, Gov. Cuomo said:

“For the past 16 months, Chair DiFiore has shown real dedication and commitment in her leadership of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. I am deeply grateful for her service and am confident that under Chair Horowitz, this commission will continue to hold our public officials accountable to the state’s ethics standards and help give New Yorkers the government they deserve.”

Read news coverage in Politics on the Hudson, Capitol Confidential and Daily Politics.