Albany, NY–September 16th…New York Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy today announced the formation of a public affairs and policy committee designed to assist candidates and elected officials and strengthen the Party’s network with important opinion and thought leaders both in New York State and Washington D.C..

Chairman Langworthy tapped former New York City Comptroller candidate John Burnett and former top Pfizer global executive Francine Salamone to co-chair the committee. Burnett and Salamone bring decades of combined business, policy and political expertise to the operation. The committee will focus on important issues facing New York State, such as the economy and tax policy, healthcare, housing and real estate, public safety, education and more.

“Our mission critical is to inform New Yorkers that the Republican Party is the party of taxpayers and the party of common sense solutions,” said NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy. “As part of that effort, we are developing a robust public affairs and policy committee to expand the NYGOP’s network and give our candidates the tools they need to win elections. The combined business, policy and political expertise John Burnett and Francine Salamone bring to the committee is invaluable; I can’t think of two better people to lead this charge.”

“Access to opportunities and affordability remain household issues on the minds of every New Yorker,” said John Burnett. “The working-class across the Empire State have shared dreams that can blossom and common economic interests that can materialize if supported by prudent policies. The Republican Party is the party of solutions and I look forward to helping lead this committee to spread our message and make a positive impact on the lives of New Yorkers.”

“Chairman Langworthy is making critical investments in staff and infrastructure to build the NYGOP and win back New York State for the taxpayers,” said Francine Salamone. “His vision of a strong public affairs and policy function is foundational to electing Republicans up and down the ballot. I’m excited to bring my experience in the private sector and public policy arena to help grow and strengthen the New York Republican Party.”

John Burnett is the Managing Director and Founder of 1 Empire Group, a consulting firm specializing in business analytics and development, operations, process re-engineering, growth strategies, risk management, and strategic communications. John is a business executive with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has held leadership roles in risk management, compliance, and operations for the world’s top financial services and business information companies to include Citi, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and S&P Global. John is currently serving local communities through various not-for-profit organizations to include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., One Hundred Black Men of New York, and Urban Resource Institute. Additionally, John volunteers for P.E.N.C.I.L. (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning). He is a founder of the Summit Academy Charter School, a board member of New York University’s Alumni Association, and an adjunct professor at Hampton University and New York University. John was the 2013 Republican nominee for New York City Comptroller and has written opinion editorials featured in Black Enterprise, Newsmax, The Hill, U.S. News and World Report, Wall Street Journal, and many others, covering a wide array of topics. He is also a frequent guest commentator on Fox Business Network, Newsmax, NY1, and international news stations based in Australia, Middle East, and the United Kingdom.

Francine R. Salamone is Founder and CEO of Dunamis Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in strategic government relations, public affairs and policy. Francine is a business executive with more than 3 decades of experience in public affairs and the healthcare industry generally.  She most recently served as Vice President of Pfizer’s Global Policy and International Public Affairs Division where she led public affairs, policy, government relations and communications teams to develop and implement strategies to foster positive health care, trade and investment policies.  In prior roles, Francine led business development teams to negotiate licensing deals and product acquisitions. Before joining Pfizer, Francine managed the Drug Information Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and taught at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. Francine has worked in Washington D.C. and has been active in political campaigns on the federal, state and local levels including but not limited to Senator John McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign and Congressman Lee Zeldin’s 2018 Congressional campaign. A native New Yorker, Francine was born and raised in Queens and moved to Long Island after college.  Francine holds a B.S. in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from St. Johns University, and a J.D. from New York Law School.