Kenneth Mitchell

Kenneth C. "Ken" Mitchell is a Democratic Party politician from the New York City borough of Staten Island who had served in the New York City Council representing the North Shore of that borough. He is currently the executive director of the Staten Island Zoo. From March 1, 2010, to October 3, 2011, Mitchell served as interim executive director of the institution. Early life and education A third generation Staten Islander, Mitchell attended P.S. 45 and the Blessed Sacrament School and St. Peter's Boys High School. He is a graduate of Wagner College and New York Law School and is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey. Career At age 22, Mitchell recognized overdevelopment in Staten Island to be a problem and worked to rezone his neighborhood of Barrett Park to prevent such unnecessary expansion. He began his legal career as a law clerk for New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Brennan and was then a Court Attorney for the New York City Criminal Court in Staten Island. Mitchell served as chief of staff and General Counsel to former councilman (later Congressman) Mike McMahon for seven years.