State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has a new press secretary. He’s Michael Whyland, former chief of staff to Rep. Dan Maffei (who was narrowly defeated in last year’s election). Whyland also served as press officer for Governor Eliot Spitzer and he was communications director for the Service Employees International Union 1199.
He replaces Dan Weiller, who resigned his post with the Speaker a few months ago to work for influential lobbying firm Patricia Lynch Associates. Lynch, another former Silver aide, was caught up in the state pension scandal last year and agreed to pay a $500,000 fine.
