Horner Leaving Cuomo For N.Y.P.I.R.G.

*WELCOME BACK! BLAIR HORNER TO RETURN TO NYPIRG*

 

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is elated to announce that former longtime Legislative Director Blair Horner will return to work at the organization's Albany Legislative office effective Monday March 24th. For the past year Blair has been Special Advisor on Policy and Public Integrity with the Office of the Attorney General of New York State and has been responsible for implementing Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's vision for Project Sunlight, an interactive website that allows New Yorkers to learn more about state politics.

"NYPIRG is thrilled to bring Blair Horner back to the advocacy community and benefit from his extraordinary talents and deep experience," said Rebecca J. Weber, NYPIRG's Executive Director. "There is no better advocate, campaign strategist and policy analyst in Albany than Blair." In addition to conducting research and advocacy activities, Blair will be designing and directing NYPIRG's statewide policy campaigns in a variety of issue areas.

Prior to leaving NYPIRG in February 2007, Blair had been NYPIRG's Legislative Director for 21 years and was a driving force behind NYPIRG's successful campaigns to protect consumers, preserve the environment, reduce tobacco use, reform and make government more accountable, improve healthcare quality and provide the public with information on how state government works.

"NYPIRG looks forward to Blair writing new chapters on how to take on special interests and the powerful and win on behalf of the environment, consumers and those without a voice in the legislative process," Weber said. "NYPIRG is honored and privileged to have Blair back in the fold—it affirms our place as a unique organization with among the best group of public interest advocates in the nation. This is a tremendous coup for us, we couldn't be happier."

NYPIRG is New York State's largest student directed non-profit non-partisan research and advocacy organization. Since 1973 NYPIRG has successfully advocated for more than 130 bills enacted into law, authored hundreds of reports and worked to educate students and community residents about how to be effective citizens.

"Blair Horner joined my office last year to create Project Sunlight, an Internet-based platform offering New Yorkers a better understanding of state government and unprecedented access to information. He made it into reality and made it a national model. With the successful launch of Project Sunlight, Blair will continue his life-long commitment as an advocate with NYPIRG. I can't thank Blair enough for his contributions to my office and for his friendship. Sunlight was a top priority for me when I was elected and Blair was the catalyst to see it through. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his service and I wish him the best with his continuing contributions to New York."