Though not as yet listed on the White House website, several news outlets have reported that the president has nominated Anthony Lomangino to be a governor of the Postal Service, replacing Roman Martinez IV whose carryover year beyond the expiration of his term ends December 8.
The nomination was received by the Senate on June 2 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
As might be expected, the nomination has drawn not necessarily positive attention. According to Newsweek,
“Lomangino has been ‘involved’ in multiple recycling and waste management companies in Florida, including Southern Waste Systems and LGL Recycling, according to a report by E&E News by Politico. In 2024, Southern Waste Systems donated nearly $8.9 million to Right for America, the super political action committee Lomangino co-founded to push for Trump’s reelection.
“The New York Times has also reported he donated money to a legal-defense fund during the first Trump presidency for those involved in possible collusion between Russian officials and prominent members of the Trump campaign. Trump’s team did not conspire with Russia during the 2016 election, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 2019 report found.
“During a campaign rally stop in Uniondale, New York, in September 2024, Trump said Lomangino was ‘one of the greats of all time.’
“His wife, Lynda Lomangino, was earlier this year appointed to the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees. She has also donated money to Republican candidates in recent years, including hardline MAGA supporter and Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, US Environment Agency head Lee Zeldin, and Ohio congressman Max Miller. …”
According to Crain’s New York Business, Lomangino worked at Allied Sanitation, his family’s business since he was 10, but later in life founded and became chairman of Florida’s Southern Waste Management Systems. In 2016, according to a news release by Waste Management, and reported by Business Wire,
“Waste Management Inc. of Florida today announced that it has completed its acquisition of certain business assets of Southern Waste Systems (SWS)/Sun Recycling in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. …
“Waste Management, based in Houston (TX), is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. …”
As was recently announced by the current governors of the Postal Service, David Steiner was selected early in May to be the 76th postmaster general. He’s expected to be sworn in in July after the required vetting is completed.
Ironically, Steiner is the former CEO of Waste Management, the company that bought Lomangino’s business in 2016, and also reportedly was the president’s preferred choice to become PMG.
While all Americans have the right to support political candidates and donate to campaigns, the connections between political activity and nominations in these situations creates an appearance that some might view as oddly coincidental. All of that aside, it remains to be seen how Steiner will establish himself as the next PMG and, if confirmed by the Senate, how objectively governor Lomangino will deal with the person who bought his business.