ALBANY â€" Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s chief of staff, Neal Kwatra, is departing to set up his own political consultancy.
Mr. Kwatra, 39, has been the most prominent political adviser in Mr. Schneiderman’s orbit, with the exception of Mr. Schneiderman’s former wife, Jennifer Cunningham.
Mr. Kwatra, a Queens native, will continue to provide strategic advice for Mr. Schneiderman. He is also expected to advise one of the Democratic candidates in the New York City mayoral race. Mr. Kwatra maintains a close relationship with the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, which represents about 30,000 hotel workers â€" he was previously the union’s director of political and strategic affairs â€" and is likely to side with whoever the union endorses.
“Neal has been one of my closest and most trusted advisers,†Mr. Schneiderman said in a note he was to send to his staff Monday morning. He also called Mr. Kwatra “a truly outstanding partner,†adding, “I look forward tocontinuing to count on his advice and counsel for many years to come.â€
Mr. Kwatra will be replaced, on an acting basis, by Melissa DeRosa, 30, who has been serving as deputy chief of staff. Ms. DeRosa has deep Albany ties; she previously served as director of communications and legislation for Cordo & Company, a prominent lobbying firm. Her father, Giorgio DeRosa, is the chief Albany lobbyist at Bolton-St. Johns.
