| Dear Citizens Union Members and Citizens Union Foundation Supporters,
I write to inform you of several changes in the leadership of our two organizations.
Please see the announcement below and join me in thanking our outgoing chair, Richard J. Davis, for all of his committed and admired leadership over the past four years and welcoming our new chair, Peter J. W. Sherwin who has been elected as Rich's successor. Peter's valued legal experience, involvement in civic affairs, and keen knowledge of CU and its issues, prepares him well for leading CU and CUF.
Sincerely,
Dick Dadey,
Executive Director Citizens Union Announces Leadership Changes
The boards of directors of Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation met February 7th, 2008 to accept the resignation of CU and CUF Chair, Richard J. Davis and elect Peter J. W. Sherwin as the new chair. Richard Briffault, who is a long time member of the CU board , was elected to fill a vacancy as vice chair.
Ester Fuchs, Chair of the Nominating Committee, said, "While we are very sorry to see Rich Davis step down, the nominating committee was pleased to unanimously and enthusiastically recommend Peter Sherwin as the 14th chair of Citizens Union and the next chair of Citizens Union Foundation." Peter Sherwin is a partner at Proskauer Rose and a leader in the legal civic community of New York City. (A brief bio appears below.)
Richard J. Davis is stepping down to begin a campaign for Manhattan District Attorney. Outgoing chair of Citizens Union and Citizens Union, Richard J. Davis said, "I have appreciated the opportunity to serve both organizations and lead them during an exciting time when much was accomplished. It was my honor to have succeeded Denny Lewis as chair in late 2003 and to work with my colleagues on the two boards and executive director Dick Dadey as Citizens Union expanded its effort to have greater influence in positively advancing important good government and political reform issues at the state and city level. With the two boards choosing Peter Sherwin as my successor, I am extremely confident that we have in Peter a new leader that will take us even further as Citizens Union continues to carry the flag of reform and serve as an effective watchdog on government, its elected officials, campaigns and elections."
Meeting jointly, but voting separately, the boards of Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation unanimously elected Peter J. Sherwin as well Richard Briffault as one of the three vice chairs of Citizens Union. Richard joins Gail Erickson and Luis Garden Acosta as vice chairs. Richard assumes Gena Lovett's spot as vice chair since she is now serving as the Treasurer of both CU and CUF. Continuing as President of CUF is Bob Abrams; its vice chairs are Bob Kaufman, Judi Rappaport Blitzer, and Grace Lyu-Volckhausen.
"Our extraordinary thanks go to Rich Davis for his leadership and dedicated efforts to move both of our organizations to new heights," said CUF President and former NYS Attorney General, Robert Abrams. "We are fortunate to have Peter Sherwin ready to ascend to the Chair of CU and CUF. Peter brings a proven record of commitment to governmental reform, genuine leadership and a contagious enthusiasm for accomplishing our agenda. Richard Briffault is a recognized expert on a wide variety of election and government reform issues. His keen mind and ability to analyze issues will be of great value to us. I look forward to a close working relationship with both of them."
Gena Lovett, Treasurer of CU and CUF explained, "I am very pleased to welcome Peter Sherwin as the new chair of CU and CUF. He brings a great commitment to good government."
"As Peter Sherwin's law partner and fellow CUF board member," wrote Robert Kaufman, vice president of CUF, "I am enormously pleased and thrilled with his elections as the next chair of CU and CUF. He brings great skill, expertise and vision to this important leadership position."
"I am honored to be elected chair of CU and CUF," said Peter Sherwin, "Particularly because of my profound respect for past chairs, Rich Davis and Denny Lewis, for all the board members, and for our talented executive director Dick Dadey and his great team. Working to advance and support the CU/CUF mission is the most important thing I can think of doing. So it is with great enthusiasm that I focus my leadership on making Citizens Union an even more influential and effective leader for the common good in the City and State of New York."
"I congratulate Peter Sherwin on his election as the 14th chair of Citizens Union," said Denny Lewis, 12th CU chair. "He is an engaged, insightful leader with a great commitment to our nonpartisan role as an advocate for reform."
Biography of Peter J. W. Sherwin 
Peter J. W. Sherwin chairs the International Arbitration Practice Group at Proskauer Rose LLP where he is a partner and began his career. He represents numerous corporate entities and individuals with a concentration on cross-boarder disputes regarding high-stakes private investments or sophisticated financial products.
Peter is a U.S. Representative to the ICC Commission on Arbitration, which establishes the rules and policies for ICC arbitration and dispute resolution. Peter was appointed by Chief Judge Judith Kaye to Mayor Bloomberg's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary and is also a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association and chairs the Special Committee on Collateral Consequences of Criminal Proceedings.
He has been very active in the City Bar as well, where he recently chaired the Council on Judicial Administration. He also is very involved in the effort to win equal marriage rights in NY for same-sex couples and increasing diversity in the legal profession.
Peter clerked for U.S. District Judge Ann Aldrich (N.D. Ohio) and graduated from Columbia University School of Law, where he was articles editor of the Journal of Transnational Law. He also attended Washington & Lee University, receiving a B.S. in chemistry and a B.A. in French and German (magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa).
Peter joined the board of Citizens Union in 2003 and has chaired CU's dinner committee since 2006. Biography of Richard Briffault
Richard Briffault has been a member of the CU board since 1996 and has served on the executive committee for the past year. He is the Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation at Columbia Law School, where he is also vice dean and director of Columbia's Legislative Drafting Research Fund. Richard is the author of multiple law review articles regarding campaign finance law and federalism, and whose principal areas of lecturing and publication are election law, state and local government law, and property law. Richard also serves on the board of the Citizens Budget Commission and served on Governor Spitzer's government reform task force during his transition.
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Citizens Union of the City of New York, a nonpartisan force for good government for more than 100 years, works to inform and engage New Yorkers, to ensure local and state government values its citizens, addresses critical issues, and operates in a fair, open, and fiscally sound manner. |
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