New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani appointed Dean Fuleihan, a veteran budget official, as his first deputy mayor on Monday, bringing decades of government experience to an administration that has promised sweeping progressive changes.

Fuleihan, 74, will serve as the top deputy in Mamdani’s City Hall, providing institutional knowledge and operational expertise to the 34-year-old democratic socialist’s incoming administration. With over 40 years in government, Fuleihan previously served as former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s budget director and deputy mayor, following an extensive career in budget and policy roles in the state Legislature in Albany.

The appointment signals Mamdani’s approach to implementing his ambitious policy agenda, which some critics have dismissed as financially unrealistic. By selecting a seasoned government official, Mamdani appears to be balancing his progressive vision with practical governance experience.

“It is important when we are undertaking the work of transforming politics in our city, that we do so both with a relentless imagination as to what politics could be, and a fluency of what politics has been,” Mamdani said at a Monday news conference. “And what I so appreciate about both of those standing next to me is that they have displayed those two skills in spades.”

Alongside Fuleihan, Mamdani announced Elle Bisgaard-Church as his City Hall chief of staff. Bisgaard-Church previously served as a top campaign adviser and chief of staff during Mamdani’s tenure in the state Assembly.

As the youngest mayor in generations when he takes office next year, Mamdani has promised to “create a new City Hall” that combines experienced leaders with fresh perspectives. His campaign platform included proposals for universal free child care, fare-free public buses, and city-operated grocery stores—ambitious initiatives that would require significant funding and, in many cases, approval from state officials.

Fuleihan’s appointment could prove strategic in navigating these challenges. In his role as first deputy mayor, he will oversee the city’s budget office and administrative departments. His extensive experience in Albany—where he served as a top adviser to former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and as the chamber’s chief budget negotiator—could be invaluable as Mamdani seeks state-level support for his agenda.

New York City’s next mayor will inherit responsibility for the nation’s largest municipal government, including oversight of the country’s largest police department and public school system. The city faces ongoing challenges with housing affordability, public safety, and recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic, all within the constraints of a tight municipal budget.

Since his election victory last week, Mamdani has moved quickly to assemble his transition team, drawing from a pool of former city and federal officials that includes veterans of the previous two mayoral administrations. This approach suggests a recognition of the complex challenges awaiting his administration and the need for experienced hands to implement his progressive vision.

In another signal of potential continuity amid change, Mamdani has expressed interest in retaining current Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Though Tisch has not yet indicated whether she would accept the position under the new administration, her potential retention would represent a notable departure from the wholesale leadership changes that typically accompany a new mayor, particularly one who campaigned on significant reforms.

As Mamdani prepares to take office, his early appointments reflect an effort to balance his progressive ideals with the practical realities of governing America’s largest city. The selection of Fuleihan, with his deep knowledge of municipal finance and operations, suggests the incoming mayor is seeking to build an administration that can translate ambitious policy goals into achievable governance.