Albany Mayor-Elect Dr. Dorcey Announces Key Administration Appointments
Energized, Experienced & Committed City Hall Team Starts to Take Shape with New Hires for Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Counsel and Director of Policy & Director of Communications
(Albany, NY) Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 – Albany Mayor-elect Dr. Dorcey Applyrs today announced her selections for three top posts in her incoming administration as she works to assemble a team of dedicated public servants to implement her agenda and deliver on behalf of all city residents.
Applyrs has selected Nesta Littlejohn to serve as Chief of Staff to the Mayor, John J. Reilly Jr. as Counsel and Director of Policy, and Zipporah Hommel as Director of Communications. All three appointees worked on Applyrs’ history-making 2025 mayoral campaign. Two of the three titles – Counsel and Director of Policy and Director of Communications – are newly created positions that the Mayor-elect has determined are critical to create a more responsive, transparent, and effective city government.
“This city deserves an administration that matches its energy, heart, grit and determination,” Mayor-elect Applyrs said. “John, Nesta, and Zipporah have more than demonstrated their willingness to work tirelessly for Albany and fight on behalf of its residents. They share my abiding love for the City and strong belief in its bright future. I deeply appreciate that they will continue to help me move Albany forward and I look forward to working with them.”
Nesta Littlejohn is a lifelong Albany resident and a graduate of Albany High School. He has built his professional career in public service, with experience working on electoral campaigns and in government. Prior to joining Applyrs’ campaign as Field Director, he served as Legislative Director for New York State Assemblymember Michaelle Solages.
Raised by parents who emphasized the values of hard work and service, Littlejohn brings to the Applyrs administration a strong commitment to public engagement. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs from Manhattan University and a master’s degree in international relations from King’s College London.
In addition to his professional work, Littlejohn is involved in working with youth and on behalf of political engagement organizations at the local and national levels. He is the immediate past President of the Albany County Young Democrats and serves as a member of the Albany County Democratic Committee. He also holds the position of Organizing Director for the Young Democrats of America, Eastern Region.
“I am excited to continue working with Mayor-elect Applyrs and help execute her vision for Albany’s bright future,” Littlejohn said. “From her three-year campaign to her historic election and inclusive transition process, the Mayor-elect has set the bar high for a city government that delivers for everyone. I am humbled to be able to play a role in this transformative effort.”
John J. Reilly Jr. is a fifth generation Albanian, who served as the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Mayor-elect, driving strategic policy decisions. Since Mayor-elect Applyrs's historic victory, he has directed the transition efforts for the incoming administration.
Reilly began his legal career in the Boston office of an international law firm, where he focused his practice on corporate transactions. In 2024, he returned to his hometown to Activate Albany.
Reilly is involved in the community and maintained a pro bono practice while in the private sector. He's a former youth coach and volunteer with the City's Department of Recreation, where he worked with young Albany residents on improving their basketball skills. Reilly received his Bachelor of Arts in Government, cum laude, from Georgetown University, and earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Boston College Law School.
“It is a true honor to be able to serve the city that has given me and my family so much, and to do it under a leader who has a vision for a truly inclusive and successful future,” said Reilly. “Albany needs a city government that is equitable, transparent, and delivers on its promises. I look forward to the work ahead and to continuing to support the Mayor-elect.”
Zipporah Hommel brings to the position of Communications Director three years of political experience across New York City and Upstate – including work on the Mayor-elect’s successful primary campaign.
Prior to accepting this role, Hommel worked as a Senior Associate for Bolton-St. Johns, a top-ranked New York government relations and public affairs firm. In 2024, she split her time between client advocacy and political campaign work, assisting on several campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Most recently, Hommel worked on the run-off campaign for Eileen Higgins, the first Democratic mayor elected to the city of Miami, Florida, in 30 years.
Prior to this work, Hommel oversaw social media and marketing for Destination Tomorrow, a Bronx-based LGBTQ+ nonprofit. She attended the University of Vermont, where she hosted a weekly radio show and earned a bachelor’s degree in history, with a double minor in economics and public communications.
“I am looking forward to returning to Albany to continue working with Mayor-elect Applyrs and ensuring that her administration communicates clearly and effectively,” Hommel said. “Like the Mayor-elect herself, I am choosing Albany because I believe in its great potential and boundless opportunities and recognize the critical importance of telling the story of both this city and its leaders in the years to come.”
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For additional information – including photos of the appointees – please contact: Liz@Marathonstrategies.com, 518-424-0356.