The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC), the joint State-City corporation formed to oversee the revitalization and rebuilding of Lower Manhattan, has named Louis R. Tomson as Executive Director.

The announcement was made by John C. Whitehead, Chairman of the LMDC Board of Directors. Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Whitehead said, "The person in this position will have a crucial impact on the future, not only of the lower Manhattan area but also on the future of New York City as a whole. We must have someone who is dedicated and innovative in his thinking and someone who cares deeply about the City. Lou Tomson has these qualities.

I am extremely pleased that Lou has agreed to take on this important job. He has the intelligence, the integrity and the vision necessary to fashion and implement a plan for lower Manhattan which takes into account the concerns of all constituents, including the victims' families, everyone's desire for a meaningful and lasting memorial, the residents and the businesses of the lower Manhattan area, and the needs of the City for an economically vibrant zone. I am looking forward to working with him closely on this mission."

"Lou Tomson is the right person at the right time for this critically
important job," Governor George E. Pataki said. "I congratulate the Board on its selection. Lou Tomson played a critical role working with the MTA to reduce bus and subway fares through the introduction of weekly and monthly Metrocards, and the end of the two-fare zones," the Governor added. "He played a critical role working with the Port Authority in development of the plane-to-the-train project and in working with LIPA to bring about 20 percent electric rate cuts by ending LILCO's stranglehold on Long Island. In short, he gets things done. As he takes on a new and immense challenge, I know he will again deliver real results that will help us renew and rebuild lower Manhattan."

"I am very pleased with the selection of Lou Tomson as Executive Director of the LMDC," commented Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "We have an opportunity now which this city has not seen since the time of Robert Moses. We have an empty slate to draw upon. We will pursue this redevelopment initiative with the greater good of the city in mind, while taking into particular account the feelings and sensibilities of the victims' families and friends, and the residents and businesses of the lower Manhattan area. We will have the benefit of the thinking of a wide range of professionals and concerned citizens in the process. I think Lou Tomson is the person who can pull all this together. I pledge the full cooperation of Deputy Major Daniel L. Doctoroff and my team to Lou and our partners in this historic and critical effort."

Public Service Career Spans Over Three Decades

Mr. Tomson was First Deputy Secretary to Governor George E. Pataki from 1995 to 1998, responsible for policy development for the State's 60-plus public authorities, including the New York Power Authority, Long Island Power Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In addition, Mr. Tomson was the Governor's chief policy maker for energy and communications. Later, he served as Chairman and CEO of the New York State Thruway Authority and its subsidiary, the New York State Canal Corporation. Before working for the Governor, Mr. Tomson was Counsel to the Comptroller of the State of New York and General Counsel to the New York State Dormitory Authority. He later represented the State Comptroller on the Dormitory Authority Board. Mr. Tomson first entered the public sector in 1967 as Deputy Counsel to the New York State Office of General Services.

In the private sector, Mr. Tomson has served as President of SAOI Ltd., a consulting firm, and Sr. Vice President of Plug Power, Inc., a leading fuel cell developer. He has had a successful law career, having been a managing partner of Plunkett & Jaffe and a partner at Hiscock & Barclay.

Mr. Tomson is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia Law School. He was honored as Man of the Year by the Municipal Forum of New York City and received the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations