"After all the bonehead stuff we've put up with from the Albany and New York City gang, here's a guy who will make New York State a better place to live," he said. "This is awesome."
Wilmers now will find himself directly involved in such things as the much-delayed World Trade Center redevelopment effort.
"We need some direction to bring upstate and downstate together," said Richard Bivone, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce on Long Island. He said Wilmers' connections will benefit job-creation efforts.
As a private citizen, Wilmers never hesitated to offer his views on the state. Thursday, however, he took his time. Asked what policy changes he would want to push, he said, "I didn't lobby for the job. I've been in the job 15 minutes, so I think it's presumptive of me to answer that."
Critics have claimed that the year-old bifurcated development agency has prompted the upstate and downstate offices to fight for control and money.