Council members on the New Castle County Executive Committee heard introductions Jan. 14 from a slate of nominees selected by County Executive Marcus Henry for key administration posts, and the committee deferred formal consent votes to the council meeting scheduled for Jan. 28.

The nominees who spoke at the session were Cleon Cauley for general manager of the Department of Public Works; Jill Florey for chief financial officer; Aaron Goldstein for New Castle County attorney; Captain James (Jamie) Leonard III for chief of police; and Elmer Setting for director of public safety. Each nominee gave a short statement about their background and priorities and answered questions in a later portion of the meeting. Councilman Hollins presided as co-chair of the Executive Committee.

The nominees summarized experience and early priorities. Cleon Cauley described a combined career in law and operations, saying his leadership framework emphasizes “financial excellence,” improving internal business processes, sustaining physical and human capital, and “high quality stakeholder service.” Cauley concluded, “I essentially exist to serve.”

Jill Florey, introduced as the nominee for chief financial officer, said she has spent about 20 years in finance roles and described experience at the state budget office, in school-district finance and as a county financial official. Florey said she is “very excited to bring that knowledge and experience” to county government.

Aaron Goldstein, the nominee for county attorney, outlined more than two decades of public-sector legal work including roles as an assistant public defender, assistant city solicitor and senior positions in the Delaware Department of Justice and Delaware Court of Chancery. He concluded his remarks by asking for council consent, saying, “I respectfully ask for your consent to commence that office.”

On public safety and policing, Captain James Leonard III identified officer attrition as a major problem and outlined recruitment goals. He said the department planned an incoming recruit class of 39 and discussed proposals to increase a future class to more than 55 recruits. Leonard emphasized culture, leadership and community engagement, urging officers to “get out of the car, to walk, to talk, to form relationships.”

Elmer Setting, the nominee for director of public safety, recounted a long County Police career and said he returned from state service to “come home.” He referenced prior programs he helped establish and said he intends to move the agency forward, pledging to be accountable to council and the public.

Council members thanked the nominees and said they would continue one-on-one conversations; Councilman Hollins reminded the committee that the formal consent votes for the resolutions (nos. 25014, 25015, 25017 and 25018) are scheduled for the Jan. 28 council meeting.

The committee’s role at the Jan. 14 session was to hear introductions and background material; no consents were recorded at this meeting. Council members who raised questions said they were satisfied with follow-up discussions they had had with nominees in advance. A formal record of each nominee’s resolution number and the Jan. 28 vote will appear on the council agenda.