ALBANY - Candidates to succeed state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who resigned in scandal, will now have to be qualified by a panel of former comptrollers in a new merit-based system pushed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Under the process announced Tuesday, the state Legislature - dominated by Democrats - will choose a new comptroller from the list of qualified finalists. The procedure was presented as a sign of unusual bipartisanship for Albany.
Five finalists will be questioned as early as next week in public hearings by senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers and the former comptrollers.
“We have tried to remove politics from this process ... to breed confidence from the public,” Spitzer said.
The panel is an addition to the existing system, which empowers the Legislature to fill vacancies in statewide office. Traditionally the decision is made by the Legislature's dominant party. In 1993, the Democrat-led Assembly voted for Assemblyman G. Oliver Koppell, who was the choice of then-Speaker Saul Weprin, to be attorney general. Shortly after, Assembly Democrats approved H. Carl McCall, the choice of former Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo, as comptroller. Republican Edward Regan had resigned in 1993.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he hoped a comptroller would be chosen by the end of the month. That would provide nearly a full, four-year term for the appointee.
Silver, as the top Democratic leader in the Legislature, could still direct the vote for comptroller. Silver was under pressure from some of his senior members who sought the $151,500-a-year job, which would be a huge political boost. But he agreed to include Spitzer's desire for a qualifying step that will narrow the field.
“This is a new governor,” Silver said. “He hopes to govern by consensus with the legislative leaders. As far as I'm concerned, placing the responsibility in the Legislature invites input from the governor.”
Those close to Spitzer, who had campaigned on a platform of ridding Albany of corruption and gridlock, expected the governor to want a new comptroller with extensive private sector financial experience and little connection to Albany.
The new process for selecting a comptroller was developed by the Democratic governor, the Democratic speaker, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and the minority leaders of each chamber. A Republican senator recently suggested the idea to Spitzer, based on the selection of Court of Appeals judges. In December, Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco publicly called for a panel of experts to review candidates.
“I don't think any of them (in the Legislature) has the full scope of the responsibilities,” said former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, who will serve on the qualifying panel. “We do.”
McCall said candidates will have to demonstrate integrity, independence, managerial skills and have some financial experience. The Democrat will serve on the panel with Regan, and is expected to serve with former Democratic New York City Comptroller Harrison Goldin, who hasn't yet accepted.
Hevesi, a Democrat, was re-elected in November to a second, four-year term, despite being under investigation for using state employees to drive and care for his wife.
Under threat of indictment, Hevesi pleaded guilty to a felony in December, was fined $5,000 and resigned. He also reimbursed the state more than $200,000.
The comptroller is the chief auditor of state local government spending and is the trustee of the $140 billion public workers' pension system.
Supporters said the new process showed bipartisanship.
“Hopefully that's a good omen for Albany and it's a new day,” said Rachel Leon of Common Cause-New York.
“The people of this state should be encouraged,” said Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, a Queens Democrat. “We got their message.”
Five finalists will be questioned as early as next week in public hearings by senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers and the former comptrollers.
“We have tried to remove politics from this process ... to breed confidence from the public,” Spitzer said.
The panel is an addition to the existing system, which empowers the Legislature to fill vacancies in statewide office. Traditionally the decision is made by the Legislature's dominant party. In 1993, the Democrat-led Assembly voted for Assemblyman G. Oliver Koppell, who was the choice of then-Speaker Saul Weprin, to be attorney general. Shortly after, Assembly Democrats approved H. Carl McCall, the choice of former Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo, as comptroller. Republican Edward Regan had resigned in 1993.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he hoped a comptroller would be chosen by the end of the month. That would provide nearly a full, four-year term for the appointee.
Silver, as the top Democratic leader in the Legislature, could still direct the vote for comptroller. Silver was under pressure from some of his senior members who sought the $151,500-a-year job, which would be a huge political boost. But he agreed to include Spitzer's desire for a qualifying step that will narrow the field.
“This is a new governor,” Silver said. “He hopes to govern by consensus with the legislative leaders. As far as I'm concerned, placing the responsibility in the Legislature invites input from the governor.”
Those close to Spitzer, who had campaigned on a platform of ridding Albany of corruption and gridlock, expected the governor to want a new comptroller with extensive private sector financial experience and little connection to Albany.
The new process for selecting a comptroller was developed by the Democratic governor, the Democratic speaker, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and the minority leaders of each chamber. A Republican senator recently suggested the idea to Spitzer, based on the selection of Court of Appeals judges. In December, Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco publicly called for a panel of experts to review candidates.
“I don't think any of them (in the Legislature) has the full scope of the responsibilities,” said former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, who will serve on the qualifying panel. “We do.”
McCall said candidates will have to demonstrate integrity, independence, managerial skills and have some financial experience. The Democrat will serve on the panel with Regan, and is expected to serve with former Democratic New York City Comptroller Harrison Goldin, who hasn't yet accepted.
Hevesi, a Democrat, was re-elected in November to a second, four-year term, despite being under investigation for using state employees to drive and care for his wife.
Under threat of indictment, Hevesi pleaded guilty to a felony in December, was fined $5,000 and resigned. He also reimbursed the state more than $200,000.
The comptroller is the chief auditor of state local government spending and is the trustee of the $140 billion public workers' pension system.
Supporters said the new process showed bipartisanship.
“Hopefully that's a good omen for Albany and it's a new day,” said Rachel Leon of Common Cause-New York.
“The people of this state should be encouraged,” said Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, a Queens Democrat. “We got their message.”
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