Hochul Appoints 2 Women to Key Posts in Her Cabinet

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will become the first female governor of New York on Tuesday, selected experienced political aides to fill her top two administration posts.

A day before Kathy Hochul becomes the first female governor of New York State, she announced that her top two aides will be women, too. Karen Persichilli Keogh, who is known in political circles by her initials “KPK,” will become secretary to the governor, the highest-ranking appointed position in the state. She will succeed Melissa DeRosa, who was the first woman to hold the position. In a tweet, Ms. DeRosa described Ms. Keogh as a “superstar.” Ms. Keogh’s appointment, along with the selection of Elizabeth Fine as Ms. Hochul’s counsel, means that a trio of women will be at the helm of the executive branch roiled by allegations of sexual harassment by the outgoing governor.