Dromm fires long-time chief of staff running to replace him in Queens
/
Councilmember Daniel Dromm fired his chief of staff Carolyn Tran (pictured), one of several candidates running to replace him. Photo via campaign
By David Brand
Term-limited Councilmember Daniel Dromm has fired his long-time chief of staff, less than three months after she kicked off her campaign to replace him.
Carolyn Tran worked for Dromm for 12 years, including the past five as his chief of staff, and announced her candidacy for Dromm’s Council District 25 seat in December 2020. The district includes Jackson Heights and parts of Elmhurst and East Elmhurst.
On Tuesday morning, however, the city council’s human resources department called Tran and brought Dromm into the conversation. Dromm curtly informed Tran that he was firing her, according to people familiar with the call.
Dromm did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. In a text, Tran said she was not ready to talk about her termination.
A person close to Tran said Tran, a single mother of two, was stunned to learn of her firing after working for Dromm for more than a decade. Tran began working for Dromm as an intern and earned just over $110,000 last year, according to Council financial records published on the website See Through New York.
Three people familiar with office dynamics said Dromm was upset with Tran for announcing her candidacy without first consulting him.
Another candidate, Shekar Krishnan, has served as president of the New Visions Democratic Club, an organization founded by Dromm, and is seen as Dromm’s favored candidate.
Seven other candidates have also filed their campaigns for Council District 25 with the New York City Board of Elections.
In addition to its impact on Tran and the race for Council District 25, the firing has led to a staff reshuffling in one other Queens council office.
Nick Roloson, the long-time chief of staff for Astoria Councilmember Costa Constantinides, will take over that role in Dromm’s office. Roloson had filed to run to replace the term-limited Constantinides in District 22 but dropped out of the race last year. Roloson did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Constantinides congratulated Roloson on the new role, which he called a “promotion” because Dromm is chair of the powerful Finance Committee.
“Nick got a promotion and he gets to work on the city budget,” Constantinides said. “It’s a huge opportunity. I’m so happy for him and so happy for Danny.”
Constantinides also shot down speculation that Roloson’s exit signals that he will leave the council before his term ends at the end of the year.
Constantinides, chair of the Council’s environmental committee, said he does not have a new job lined up and wants to see a major policy proposal through before leaving the Council.
“I gotta pass renewable Rikers,” he said, referring to a plan to turn Rikers Island into a sustainable energy storage hub. “I’m not done yet.”
UPDATE: Shortly after publication of this story, a council source not authorized to speak to the media said Tran was fired for alleged misconduct and is being investigated for violations of council rules and policies.
They did not provide details about the allegations. Council officials and Dromm have not provided additional information.
