In a significant move for his incoming administration, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has selected a seasoned government expert to serve as his second-in-command at City Hall.
The appointment of Dean Fuleihan, a veteran with over four decades of experience in city and state budget roles, as First Deputy Mayor signals Mamdani's intent to balance his transformative political vision with deep institutional knowledge.
A Seasoned Hand for City Hall Operations
The announcement was made on Monday 10 November 2025, providing the first major insight into how the 34-year-old democratic socialist will manage the practicalities of governing the nation's largest city. Fuleihan, 74, is expected to take on a broad portfolio, including oversight of the city's budget office and key administrative departments.
His extensive resume includes serving as former Mayor Bill de Blasio's budget director and deputy mayor, as well as a long tenure in the state Legislature in Albany. There, he acted as a top adviser to former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and served as the chamber's chief budget negotiator.
Balancing Experience with a Transformative Vision
At a news conference, Mamdani, who will become the city's youngest mayor in generations upon taking office next year, pledged to "create a new City Hall." He emphasised the need for both experienced leaders and fresh perspectives to achieve this goal.
"It is important when we are undertaking the work of transforming politics in our city, that we do so both with a relentless imagination as to what politics could be, and a fluency of what politics has been," Mamdani stated, praising both Fuleihan and his newly appointed Chief of Staff, Elle Bisgaard-Church, for embodying these qualities.
Navigating an Ambitious Policy Agenda
Mamdani's ambitious policy platform, which includes proposals for free child care, free buses, and city-run grocery stores, has been criticised by some as financially unrealistic. The appointment of Fuleihan, with his profound understanding of state-level budget negotiations, is seen as a crucial step in navigating these proposals through the necessary channels in Albany, where buy-in from state lawmakers and the governor is often required.
Since his electoral victory last week, Mamdani has moved quickly to assemble a transition team, drawing on former city and federal officials from the previous two mayoral administrations. In a separate but notable decision, he has also expressed a desire to retain the city's current police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, though she has yet to confirm if she will stay in the role.
