Buffalo, NY (WBEN) As Democrats vote on who should be the candidate in the comptroller's race in November, some are wondering if the office should be appointed instead.
Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick says the office should be important to voters. "The state comptroller, obviously, is the chief financial officer for the state of New York. One of his prime responsibilities is opining on the state budget, and especially on revenue sources, but more importantly, he is the trustee of the state's pension funds, so all of the teachers, all of the firefighters, all of the public employees of every stripe, they rely on him for investing their pension funds and getting a return, so that when they retire, they'll have their, their money available for them," says Hardwick,
Former Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw agrees. "Billions of their tax dollars are being managed, and is the responsibility of the New York State Comptroller, whether it's managing the multi billion dollar pension fund that again is under the purview of the New York State Comptroller, or most important, being the watchdog, the independent watchdog of Albany politicians," says Mychajliw.
He says the office should be an elected one. "It's very difficult to hold the governor accountable, for example, if the governor is the one appointing that position, it would be very hard to go against your boss or the person that gave you the job when it comes to being an independent controller. If that's how it was set up, if the legislature on their own appointed the New York State Comptroller, how would that person be truly independent if they owe their position and job to the very same body they're supposed to hold accountable," says Mychaljiw.
Hardwick agrees. "I think it's good that we have an elected controller every four years," notes Hardwick. "He has to come back to us and ask us if he's done a good job. In the case of (Comptroller Tom DiNapoli), I think he's done a great job, but I think I think it's still important that the people be able to hold their chief financial officer accountable, and that's what we have through an elected controller in the state of New York." DiNapoli faces challenges from Raj Doyle and Drew Warshaw.
Mychaliw is supporting Joe Hernandez, the Republican candidate in November.
Current and former county comptrollers say office should remain elected
Current and former county comptrollers say office should remain elected
