City Hall, NY-Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Minority Leader James Oddo today announced eight appointments to the Districting commission. The five appointments of the Council’s Democratic Caucus will join three appointments of the Council’s Minority Caucus. The Districting Commission meets once every ten years following the decennial census. Based upon changes in the population of the City, Council district lines are redrawn to accommodate shifts in population within the City.

“I am pleased to announce the Democratic Caucus appointments to the Districting Commission,” said Speaker Quinn. “These five individuals together with the appointees of Mayor Bloomberg and the Council’s Minority Caucus will take on the important task of redrawing our electoral districts fairly. I want to thank them for their leadership, for the challenging work they will do, and for their service to our City. ”

Minority Leader Oddo said, “This is serious process, and the Republican Caucus has selected three qualified individuals who are anxious to begin working with the other appointees to ensure a fair re-districting process that is worthy of the greatest city in the world.”

The Council Democratic Caucus appointments are:

Jamila Ponton Bragg
Ms. Bragg is an Educational Outreach Manager at Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street. Ms. Bragg serves as a commissioner on the New York City Lobbying Commission. Since 2004, Ms. Bragg has taught Sunday school to 9th and 10th grade students at the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Ms. Bragg earned a Masters’ degree at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science degree at Duke University. Ms. Bragg is a resident of Morningside Heights.

Linda Lin
Ms. Lin is a senior attorney with Liberty International Underwriters and a former Associate of the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Ms. Lin is the President of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. She is the former law clerk for U.S. District Judge Dora L. Irizarry. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and Binghamton University. She resides in Forest Hills, Queens.

John Robert
For twenty eight years, Mr. Robert served as a Community Board Member and District Manager of Community Board #2 in the Bronx. He was an administrator at Harlem Hospital and the South Bronx Mental Health Council. Mr. Robert earned a Masters’ Degree from Polytechnic Institute of New York; he is a graduate of the City University of New York. Mr. Robert resides in the Pelham section of the Bronx.

Roxanne J. Persaud
Ms. Persaud is the Registrar at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Prior to her current position, she was an administrator at Pace University. Ms. Persaud is a member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. She earned a Bachelors and a Master’s degree at Pace University. She lives in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn.

Robert W. Hart
Mr. Hart works in digital media publishing and is a former journalist. As a reporter for the Staten Island Advance, Mr. Hart covered local breaking news, crime, and national assignments. Mr. Hart was appointed to Albany Bureau Chief, directing the Advance’s state government coverage. Mr. Hart is a graduate of SUNY Purchase; he resides in the West Brighton section of Staten Island.

The Council Minority Caucus appointments are:

Kamillah M. Hanks
Ms. Hanks is the former Executive Director of the Downtown Staten Island Council and led the organization’s effort to drive the economic development and commercial revitalization of the Downtown Staten Island Business District. She has served as a marketing and public relations consultant for the Staten Island Museum and the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation. Ms. Hanks is a graduate of the College of Staten Island. She resides on Staten Island.

Thomas V. Ognibene
Mr. Ognibene is a former Council Member and Council Minority Leader. During his tenure at the Council Mr. Ognibene chaired the Select Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and served as a member of the Council’s Finance, Housing and Buildings, General Welfare, and Aging Committees. He formerly served on the New York City Lobbying Commission. Mr. Ognibene has extensive experience practicing civil and criminal law. He is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and C.W. Post College. He is a Queens resident.

Marc Wurzel
Mr. Wurzel is the General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Grand Central Partnership. He served as a Commissioner on the NYC Districting Commission in 2002-2003. Mr. Wurzel earned a B.A. degree from George Washington University and a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. He resides in Manhattan.

###