Alan Hevesi
Alan G. Hevesi (born 1940 in Queens, New York) is the Democratic Comptroller of the State of New York. He also served as Comptroller of the City of New York from 1994 to 2002, and as a New York State Assemblyman from 1968 to 1993. Hevesi was first elected State Comptroller in 2002 and won re-election in 2006. [1]
Educational background
Alan Hevesi received his Ph.D. in Public Law & Government from Columbia University in 1971. He earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Queens College, CUNY. The title of his doctoral dissertation is "Legislative Leadership in New York State". His dissertation has been archived by University Microfilms International [1] and the document number is 7201325. [2]
Political career
Prior to becoming city comptroller, Hevesi represented Queens in the New York State Assembly for over 25 years, rising to chair various committees and be considered a potential Assembly Speaker. Simultaneously (from 1967 to 1993), he was a professor of political science at Queens College in Flushing, New York.
Hevesi boasts of authoring 108 laws as an assemblyman. A close ally of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who employs his daughter Laura. Sheldon Silver has been one of Hevesi's ardent defenders.
He served two terms as New York City Comptroller from 1994 to 2002, when he was term-limited out of the office. He first unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Nomination for City Comptroller in 1989; he was defeated by Brooklyn District Attorney and former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman. In 1993, he came back to defeat Holtzman in the primary, following ethics accusations against Holtzman. Holtzman had taken a questionable loan from Fleet Bank. Hevesi in a NY1 debate assailed Holtzman. But he got a boost from Geraldine Ferraro, the one time Vice Presidential running mate of Walter Mondale. Ferraro upset over Holtzman's 1992 Senate race attack, backed Hevesi. She even encouraged him to run against Holtzman. Ironically years later Ferraro would denounce Hevesi.Hevesi also received support from Local 1199. The politically powerful health care union which gave Hevesi its endorsement.Hevesi also had a booster in Jennifer Cunningham a political director of Local 1199. Hevesi claimed to be a fiscal expert. Although he had no educational background in finance or economics.Given the support of Local 1199 and the Holtzman scandal he was able to defeat Holtzman. Hevesi even defeated former Congressman Herman Badillo, the Republican candidate in the general election. Badillo ran a very weak campaign. He was also a Republican in a largely Democratic city.
In 2001, Hevesi sought the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York, running on the platform of "Most Experienced, Best Qualified." He finished fourth, behind Public Advocate Mark J. Green, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. Hevesi was the Liberal Party nominee for Mayor in the general election, but did not campaign in the race, rather he endorsed Green for mayor in the general election. Following his defeat in the mayor's race, Hevesi started his campaign for state comptroller, which he won, defeating Republican John Faso.
As State Comptroller, Hevesi served as the state's Chief Fiscal Officer and as head of the state Department of Audit and Control. Hevesi signs state checks, handles state bookkeeping, conducts audits of state and local finances, issues economic forecasts, and serves as the sole trustee of the state pension system. In his pension system role, Hevesi has an important role in the investment community, based on the value of New York State's investment portfolio.
Hevesi's son, Andrew, was elected as an assemblyman from Queens in 2005 and his son, Daniel, served as a state senator from Queens from 1999 to 2003.
Controversies
At a commencement address he delivered at Queens College on June 1, 2006, Hevesi told his audience that Senator Charles Schumer was so tough he would "put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it." Several hours after his remarks, Hevesi apologized for his comments, calling them "beyond dumb," "remarkably stupid," and "incredibly moronic." [2] [3]
On September 21, 2006, Alan Hevesi admitted that he hired Nicholas Acquafredda as a state employee to drive around his wife. In 2003, Hevesi claims that the State Ethics Commission decided that he would pay back the entire cost of driving around his wife unless it is for specific safety purposes. A spokesperson from the State Ethics Commission denies such a decision was made. On September 26, 2006 Hevesi said he will pay the state more than $82,000 for having a public employee chauffeur his wife, after his Republican challenger, Christopher Callaghan, asked the Albany County District Attorney's office to investigate. Hevesi had admitted the previous week that he had not reimbursed the state. Callaghan and John Faso also called for Hevesi's resignation, while Attorney General (and at that time Deomcratic gubernatorial candidate) Eliot Spitzer withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi. The controversy stimulated interest in the candidacies of Callaghan and also minor party candidates Julia Willebrand of the Green Party and John Cain of the Libertarian Party. [4]
While attending the New York State Association of Counties conference on September 28, 2006, Hevesi had one of his state employed press aides tape record the speech of his opponent, Christopher Callaghan. [5]
On October 2, 2006, allegations arose that Hevesi fired receptionist Alexander McHugh, who reported a sexual harassment case. Hevesi's office stated that the receptionist did not cooperate with their investigation into the matter and that "...found no evidence of sexual harassment." McHugh filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.[6]
On October 12, 2006, Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office acknowledged that it is officially investigating actions by Hevesi regarding the public employee hired to chauffeur his wife. If Hevesi is found to have violated state ethics laws, he could be fined or possibly removed from office. [7] On October 23, 2006, the Ethics Commission deemed that Hevesi's actions involving the chauffeur may have violated state law. It is currently in the hands of the New York State Assembly to determine the punishment for the crime. [8]
On November 3, 2006, Hevesi was ordered by the office of New York State's Attorney General to pay the state $90,000 - in addition to the $83,000 he has already paid - in compensation for what has been deemed an improper use of a state employee. [3]
On Dec. 12, Hevesi agreed to a deal that calls for the $90,000 in escrow money to be turned over to the state and to pay an additional $33,605 within 10 days, making his payback total $206,000.
Books
- Alan G Hevesi (1975). Legislative politics in New York State : a comparative analysis. Praeger. ISBN 0275055205.
- Marilyn Gittell and Alan G. Hevesi (1969). The politics of urban education. Praeger. ISBN.
Dec. 12 After paying the state nearly $83,000 in October after the scandal broke and later putting an additional $90,000 into an escrow account, Hevesi has agreed to a deal that calls for the escrow money to be turned over to the state and for Hevesi to pay an additional $33,605 within 10 days, making his payback total $206,000.
Electoral history
2002 Democratic Primary for state Comptroller
- Alan Hevesi, 63%
- William Mulrow, 37%
2002 Race for state Comptroller
- Alan Hevesi (D), 50%
- John Faso (R), 46%
2006 Race for state Comptroller
- Alan Hevesi (D), 56.37%
- J. Christopher Callaghan (R), 39.45%
- Julia Willebrand (Green), 2.78%
- John Cain (LBT), 0.99%
- Willie Cotton (SWP), 0.40%
City and state tickets Hevesi has run on
1993 NYC Democratic Ticket
- Mayor: David Dinkins
- Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
1997 NYC Democratic Ticket
- Mayor: Ruth Messinger
- Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
2001 NYC Liberal Party Ticket
- Mayor: Alan Hevesi
- Public Advocate: Scott Stringer
- Comptroller: Herbert Berman
2002 NYS Democratic Ticket
- Governor: Carl McCall
- Lieutenant Governor: Dennis Mehiel
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
- Attorney General: Eliot Spitzer
2006 NYS Democratic ticket
- Governor: Eliot Spitzer
- Lieutenant Governor: David Paterson
- Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
- Attorney General: Andrew Cuomo
- U.S. Senate: Hillary Rodham Clinton
See also
External links
Reference
- ^ Cardwell, Diane (November 8, 2006). "Despite Accusations, Hevesi Is Re-elected New York's Comptroller" (HTML). New York Times.
- ^ "Hevesi Apologizes for Remarks" (HTML, WMV, MP). 1010 WINS. Friday, 02 June 2006.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Foot In Mouth Syndrome" (HTML). Youtube. Friday, 02 June 2006.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Lucadamo, Kathleen (October 30, 2006). "Flap-happy day for underdogs" (HTML). Impact of the Hevesi scandal on Green Party candidates. New York Daily News.
- ^ Mahoney, Joe (September 29, 2006). "Hevesi aide working on campaign" (HTML). New York Daily News.
- ^ Smith, Ben (October 2, 2006). "Eliot pick a warning for union: Local 1199's clout may be on wane" (HTML). New York Daily News.
- ^ . New York Newsday. October, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--comptrollersrace1012oct12,0,19756.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork.
{{cite web}}:|url=missing title (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ . New York Newsday. October, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-sthevi1024,0,6208672.story?coll=ny-nycnews-headlines.
{{cite web}}:|url=missing title (help); Check date values in:|date=(help)