Governor Kathy Hochul on May 1 announced the nomination of Walter T. Mosley to serve as New York’s 69th Secretary of State.
Mosley is a longtime community leader in Brooklyn who served for nearly a decade in the New York State Assembly, according to a news release.
“I am deeply honored to be chosen by Governor Hochul to serve as Secretary of State," Mosley said. "My career has been focused on finding ways to make government work for the people, and I am thrilled to take on this pivotal role in state government.”
Mosley, who will replace Robert Rodriguez, who left earlier this month for a position in the state Dormitory Authority, will need to be confirmed by the New York State Senate to begin his tenure, the release said.
“The Department of State plays a critical role implementing a broad array of government services, from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative to the Office for New Americans,” Hochul said. “Walter Mosley’s public service in the New York State Assembly and his years of leadership in his community have given him the skills and experience necessary to lead this Department into the future.”
The secretary of state serves as the head of the Department of State, which acts as the state's planning agency and keeper of records. The secretary is responsible for the regulation of certain businesses and professions, including cemeteries, private investigators and real estate brokers.
It registers corporations and business organizations, and maintains business and governmental records under the Uniform Commercial Code and other laws. It also regulates combat sports under the New York State Athletic Commission.
In addition, the role supervises the consumer protection division and administers the confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual offence and stalking, among other things.
Mosley served in the New York State Assembly from 2013 to 2020, representing communities in central Brooklyn including the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and parts of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights.
He was a member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus (BPHA), the Hispanic Task Force and the Jewish Caucus. He also served as co-chair of BPHA’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Task Force on Cannabis. In his capacity as a BPHA Caucus member, Mosley served as Second Vice-chair and as the Budget Chair.
Mosley also served as a Legislative Analyst and Oversight Investigator for the New York City Council, Senior Consultant to the New York State Assembly and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly prior to becoming a member of the New York Legislature in 2013.
He received a Bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and received a law degree from Howard University. Mr. Mosley currently lives in the Capital Region.
