“The poster boy for Albany dysfunction”: that’s how one news editorial called Tom DiNapoli in 2007 after he was selected state comptroller by his peers in the legislature.
Even then, Gov. Eliot Spitzer decried the move. “Far too many in leadership ask not what is right for the public or ethics, or governance, but how would this affect me,” Spitzer said at the time.
After spending two decades as an Assemblyman from Nassau County, Tom DiNapoli had applied to replace Alan Hevesi, who had resigned in disgrace and later went to prison.
What You Need To Know
- DiNapoli was selected by the legislature in 2007 after his predecessor resigned in scandal
- His selection was initially controversial, but voters have already elected him three times since then
- Before becoming comptroller, DiNapoli served in the Assembly for two decades
- He faces Republican challenger Paul Rodríguez this November
“My obligation is to work with the team that is there, to restore the reputation of that office,” DiNapoli said at the time.
Voters elected DiNapoli to the position in 2010, and reelected him in 2014 and 2018.
He’s served under four different governors: Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson, Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul.
“A lot of folks have come and gone, but I think it speaks to the stability that we’ve brought to the office of comptroller, which is very important to keep state government functioning and I hope the people of New York give me another four years to do the job I love to do,” DiNapoli said earlier this month while marching on the Columbus Day Parade.
Today, DiNapoli is the second longest-serving comptroller in New York State history, only behind Arthur Levitt Sr., who spent 24 years in office, from 1955 to 1978.
DiNapoli has tried to manage the office with independence, at times clashing with governors, including Cuomo.
“The audit is the audit. And I think people should focus not on attacking the comptroller, they really should focus on attacking some of the problems we’ve identified,” DiNapoli said after being attacked by Cuomo in 2016.
Since he was selected for the position, the state pension fund’s value has gone up from $154.5 billion dollars to $272 billion.
“Still being in office with a clean record and doing the job with integrity and honesty, I think that’s especially important for the person who’s looking at the money and looking at the finances,” DiNapoli said on “Mornings On 1” recently.
This November DiNapoli is facing Republican challenger Paul Rodríguez, who ran for city Comptroller last year.