Thomas DiNapoli

Thomas DiNapoli
54th Comptroller of New York
Assumed office
February 7, 2007
Governor Eliot Spitzer
David Paterson
Andrew Cuomo
Preceded by Thomas Sanzillo (Acting)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 16th district
In office
January 1, 1987 – February 7, 2007
Preceded by May W. Newburger
Succeeded by Michelle Schimel
Personal details
Born (1954-02-10) February 10, 1954
Rockville Centre, New York, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Hofstra University
New School

Thomas P. DiNapoli (born February 10, 1954[1][2]) is the 54th Comptroller of the state of New York. He is a former state assemblyman in New York, who was elected by the state legislature as New York State Comptroller on February 7, 2007. He was formerly the Chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. DiNapoli is a Democrat from Long Island. He is a resident of the Village of Great Neck Plaza. In November 2014, he won reelection, leading the statewide ticket with the most votes. [3]

Entry career and education

DiNapoli has been active in politics since he was a teenager, when he ran for and won a position as a trustee on the Mineola Board of Education.[1] At the age of 18 in 1972, he was the youngest person in New York State history elected to public office.[4] He served on the school board for 10 years.[5]

In 1976, DiNapoli graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University with a bachelor's degree in history.[4][5] After college he worked for New York Telephone[1] and AT&T.

In 1988, he received a master's degree in human resources management from The New School University's Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions.[4][5]

New York Assembly and politics

DiNapoli worked as an aide for Assemblyman Angelo F. Orazio. He also served as a District Representative for Congressman Robert J. Mrazek. DiNapoli was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1987 to 2007, sitting in the 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st, 192nd, 193rd, 194th, 195th, 196th and 197th New York State Legislatures. He represented the 16th District, located in Northwest Nassau County. DiNapoli was later also elected as Chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee. In 2001, he lost the Democratic nomination for Nassau County Executive to Thomas Suozzi, who later won the election. In 2006, DiNapoli was a candidate for lieutenant governor, but dropped out of the race after Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the party's frontrunner for governor, chose Senate Minority Leader David Paterson as his running mate.

State Comptroller

Election

January 11, 2011 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Inauguration

DiNapoli applied to be State Comptroller to replace Alan Hevesi, who resigned in December 2006. He was interviewed by a panel of two former State Comptrollers, a former New York City Comptroller and a group of legislators on January 24, 2007. DiNapoli was not amongst the three finalists recommended by the review panel. On February 7, 2007, in a joint session of the New York State Legislature, DiNapoli was elected as New York State Comptroller, succeeding Alan Hevesi by a vote of 150 to 56.[6]

Service as Comptroller

In lieu of a transition committee, DiNapoli established a commission to review the Comptroller's office. The commission was headed by former Mayor of New York Ed Koch and financial expert Frank Zarb. Also included in this commission were Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, Chancellor of Syracuse University Nancy Cantor, and New York City Comptroller William Thompson.[7]

In March 2007, as one of DiNapoli's first public statements as Comptroller, he criticized Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposed budget, stating that the levels of spending were at an "unsustainable rate". DiNapoli stated that, at the rate proposed by Spitzer's budget, there would be a $13 billion deficit in three years' time.[8]

As Comptroller, DiNapoli makes periodic, public reports on a variety of issues affecting state, local, and charitable agencies. In March 2010, he reported that non-profits have been hurt by the recession as well as by delays in state contracts.[9]

By April 2010, DiNapoli gained a reputation as a critic of the State's budget deficit.[10][11][12] He "has proposed major reforms in the state budget process."[13] He unveiled a package of proposed reforms to the budget process in March 2010.[10][14] Key parts of his plans are for "governors to identify plans to erase budget deficits in future years," to cap state debt, and to require excess surplusses to be deposited into the "rainy day fund".[10]

2010 election

DiNapoli was up for election in November 2010.[15] On May 1, 2010, he won the Democratic Rural Conference’s Straw Poll by acclamation.[16] On May 26, 2010, DiNapoli received the designation of the New York Democratic Party. "I’m grateful for your support and I salute your commitment to moving our great state forward. It’s a commitment I share with each of you," said DiNapoli on the occasion.[17] He received the nomination of the Working Families Party for comptroller.

In November 2010, he narrowly won reelection.[18] DiNapoli claimed victory early the morning of November 3,[18] and Harry Wilson conceded later in the morning.[19]

2014 election

DiNapoli was up for reelection in November 2014. On May 21, 2014, he received the nomination of the New York Democratic Party.[20] “This office has an important compelling and independent role to play in moving our state forward. As New York State Comptroller, I’ll continue to go to work every day striving to do right by New Yorkers,” said DiNapoli at the Democratic Convention. He also received the nomination of the Independence, Working Families and Women’s Equality parties for State Comptroller.

In November 2014, he won reelection, defeating Republican candidate Robert Antonacci. DiNapoli received the most votes of any statewide candidate with 2,077,293 votes.[21]

Personal

DiNapoli is single and has no children.[1] Both of his parents are the children of immigrants. His father, Nick, served in World War II, and after the war worked as a cable splicer for New York Telephone. For a time he was a shop steward for his union, the Communications Workers of America. DiNapoli's mother, Adeline, was a records clerk for the county police department.[22] On September 1, 2013 he received the honorary citizenship in the small town of Paduli, in the province of Benevento - Italy, the birthplace of his paternal grandfather. On October 13, 2013, DiNapoli was honored as the St. Mary's Benevolent Society (Kingston, NY) Italian American of the year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Danny Hakim, "Man in the News: Thomas P. DiNapoli, a Nice Guy Who Wound Up Finishing First," New York Times, February 8, 2007. Found at New York Times website. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ Barkan, Ross. "Thomas DiNapoli Handily Wins Re-Election". New York Observer. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Biography: Thomas P. DiNapoli". New York State Office of the State Comptroller. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Thomas DiNapoli at linkedin.com
  6. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 7, 2007). "Capitol Confidential: Roll Call". Times Union.
  7. ↑ Newsday website Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Times Union story Archived March 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Richard A. D'Errico, "DiNapoli recommends changes to expedite nonprofit contracts," The Business Review (Albany), March 30, 2010; Modified: Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Found at Business Journals website, accessed April 5, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 "DiNapoli wants to alter budget process," Business First of Buffalo and The Albany Business Review, March 9, 2010. Found at Business Journals website, accessed April 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ Elizabeth Benjamin, "DiNapoli Talks Tough," Daily News, April 5, 2010, found at Daily News website, accessed April 5, 2010.
  12. ↑ Michael Quint, "New York Budget ‘Shell Game’ Hides Deficits and Cash Squeeze," Bloomberg News, 5, 2010, found at Bloomberg News website, accessed April 5, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Comptroller DiNapoli proposes major reforms to budget process," WTEN-TV News Channel 10, March 9, 2010. Found at WTEN-TV website, accessed April 5, 2010.
  14. ↑ Mark Leitner, "Comptroller Calls for More Budget Reforms," WNED News 970, March 10, 2010. Found at WNED-AM website, accessed April 5, 2010.
  15. ↑ Erie County Board of Elections website page on 2010 Offices to be Elected. Accessed March 29, 2010.
  16. ↑ Accessed June 22, 2010.
  17. ↑ . Accessed June 22, 2010.
  18. 1 2 Dolnick, Sam. "Thomas DiNapoli Re-Elected Comptroller in a Tight Race". New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  19. ↑ "DiNapoli Wins with Late Comptroller Returns". Long Island Press. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  20. ↑ http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/05/21/gov-cuomo-state-comptroller-dinapoli-win-dems-nomination-for-re-election/
  21. ↑ http://elections.nytimes.com/2014/new-york-elections
  22. ↑ .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas DiNapoli.
New York Assembly
Preceded by
May W. Newburger		 New York State Assembly
16th district
1987–2007 		Succeeded by
Michelle Schimel
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas Sanzillo
Acting		 Comptroller of New York
2007–present 		Incumbent
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