Northwell Health announced yesterday that state Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan (R-Brookhaven) will join the health system on June 29 as vice president of regional government affairs in Suffolk and eastern Nassau counties, upon his retirement from the state Senate on June 28.
“John’s knowledge and political acumen will be critical to advancing the eastern region, especially as Northwell continues to formalize its regional operational model to achieve greater efficiency in delivering clinical services,” said Mark Solazzo, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Northwell.
Flanagan had previously announced his intention not to run for re-election to his 2nd District seat, where he has served eight two-year terms since first being elected in 2002.
As vice president of regional government affairs for Northwell’s eastern region, Flanagan will serve as the area’s liaison with legislative officials and government regulatory agencies at the federal and local level.
The system says Flanagan will work with the leadership team of Stephen Bello, senior vice president and executive director of the health system’s Eastern Region, which includes 120 ambulatory locations and Glen Cove, Huntington, Mather, Plainview, Southside and Syosset hospitals, as well as Peconic Bay Medical Center.
Flanagan most recently was the state Senate’s Republican conference leader, representing the 2nd Senate District, which includes the Town of Smithtown and portions of the towns of Brookhaven and Huntington. He announced his retirement from the state Legislature Wednesday, effective on June 28.
First elected to the state Senate in 2002 after serving eight terms as a member of the state Assembly, Flanagan served as Senate majority leader from May 2015 through 2018, until he was succeeded by state Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers). He also chaired the Senate’s Committee on Education.
During his time in office, Flanagan helped enact a property tax cap, cut personal income taxes and repealed the MTA payroll tax for 80 percent of businesses.
He also sponsored legislation to provide women with critically important information about breast density to assist in the fight against breast cancer and advocated for organ donation.
“Throughout his 34 years in public office, John Flanagan has fought for his constituencies in western and central Suffolk County, working to provide tax relief and advocate for budget reforms to improve the area’s financial and overall health,” Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling said in a statement issued by the system. “We are pleased to announce he will now be advocating on behalf of Northwell Health.”
