WHITE PLAINS, NY (January 15, 2026) — Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced a series of leadership transitions Tuesday, including the retirement of Deputy County Executive Richard Wishnie after more than 50 years of public service and promotions from within county government.
Wishnie, who will retire at the end of January, previously served as Acting Westchester County Executive and Director of Emergency Services. He was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 1993 and served six terms representing the Town of Ossining, the Villages of Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, and Croton-on-Hudson, and portions of the Town of Cortlandt. Before his county service, Wishnie was a Councilman in the Town of Ossining from 1976 to 1979 and Supervisor from 1979 to 1983.
Jenkins praised Wishnie’s career.
“Richard Wishnie’s career has been defined by deep commitment, thoughtful leadership and a genuine love for public service,” Jenkins said. “He helped guide this County through countless challenges with steadiness and integrity. His institutional knowledge, kindness and dedication have left a lasting mark on Westchester County. On behalf of our entire workforce, I thank Richard for his service and wish him the very best in a well-deserved retirement.”
Wishnie reflected on his tenure.
“Serving the people of Westchester County has been an honor and a privilege,” Wishnie said. “I am incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together and the dedicated public servants I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside. I thank County Executive Jenkins for his faith in me, and I leave knowing the County is in strong, capable hands.”
Jenkins promoted Joan McDonald to Deputy County Executive. McDonald previously served as Director of Operations for Westchester County, New York State Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. She is also Chair of the IDA and LDC, and the NYS Bridge Authority.
“Joan’s experience, judgment, and steady leadership make her exceptionally well-suited for this role,” Jenkins said. “She has dedicated her career to strengthening communities, and her leadership will continue to be a tremendous asset to Westchester County.”
McDonald said: “It is an honor to be appointed Westchester County Deputy County Executive. I greatly admire the leadership of Ken Jenkins, and look forward to working with him as he advances his agenda for Westchester County residents.”
Emily Saltzman was promoted to Director of Operations. Saltzman has served Westchester County for nearly a decade as Deputy Director of Operations and has experience in local and state government. She also serves on the Purchase College Council.
“Emily’s promotion reflects her deep institutional knowledge, strong leadership, and personal commitment to this County,” Jenkins said. “She understands how government works and how to make it work better for the people we serve.”
Saltzman said: “I am grateful to County Executive Ken Jenkins for the opportunity to continue serving the people of Westchester County. I look forward to working with our Commissioners, Directors, and the outstanding County workforce to provide programs and services to Westchester residents.”
Under the leadership of McDonald and Saltzman, the Operations team guided the County through the COVID-19 response, oversaw the development of the County’s $2.5 billion budget, and launched initiatives including the Housing FLEX Funds, the Local Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP), and the Department of Infrastructure Grants (DIG) Program.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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