Introduction to the Comptroller Election
Dear New Yorkers, while a lot of focus has been on the mayor’s race this year, there’s another citywide race going on for an office with major responsibilities. That would be our comptroller, the city’s fiscal watchdog, a position currently held by Brad Lander (who is running for mayor.) We know, ‘fiscal watchdog’ isn’t the most thrilling topic, but stick with us — it’s important!
The Role of the Comptroller
The office oversees billions and billions of taxpayer dollars, including City Hall’s spending, audits of city agencies, and managing the public pension funds — which are bigger than the budgets of entire countries. The comptroller is seen as a financial auditor for the city but the office also issues bonds to help pay for large projects, and can approve — or reject — city contracts. The comptroller also tends to play the role of critic to the mayor, and the office has been holding City Hall to account long before Lander and Mayor Eric Adams’ recent squabbling (and impersonations.)
Candidates for Comptroller
This election season, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and City Councilmember and finance chair Justin Brannan of Brooklyn are vying for the seat. Levine has picked up endorsements from elected officials including Rep. Daniel Goldman and Rep. Jerry Nadler, as well as some of Brannan’s colleagues in the Council. He raised more than $727,000 so far, compared to Brannan’s more than $431,000, as Levine has highlighted his work launching a credit union in Upper Manhattan and protecting affordability. Brannan has been endorsed by labor unions including the Transport Workers as well as the Working Families Party. He’s calling himself not the city’s watchdog, but bulldog — and has also promised to use his role overseeing the city’s finances to help working-class New Yorkers.
Upcoming Debate and Election Events
Want to know more about the candidates? The fight for the foreman of finance will continue during a debate scheduled for next Tuesday, March 18, at New York Law School. Back to the mayor’s race real quick, we spoke with candidate Zohran Mamdani on FAQ last week.
What We’re Reading
A new poll (commissioned by a former Andrew Cuomo staffer) found 79% of Democratic voters won’t be ranking Mayor Eric Adams in June, and reveals other interesting dynamics as we head into the primary. Inspired by our reader-submitted question last week, our Rachel Kahn wrote more about the ways noncitizen New Yorkers can get involved in local elections. Looking for an easy way to get your friends vote-ready? Send them THE CITY’s new election voter information hub — a one-stop-shop for key dates, election news and interviews with the candidates.
What’s Ahead
Days until the June primary: 104. March 13 (TODAY): The next deadline for city campaign finance disclosures. We’ll be covering this to see who donated recently to candidates, and by how much. Stay tuned! March 18: Debate for comptroller candidates, as mentioned above. Free with an RSVP, 8:45 a.m. at the New York Law School. March 24: Free and virtual mayoral candidate forum with preservation groups, hosted by Village Preservation, 6 p.m. Pre-registration required. March 25: Special election to replace Councilmember Kalman Yeger in City Council District 44. Are you in that Brooklyn district? Find out here.
Your Election Questions, Answered
❓ Claire C. asked: I want to help ensure that many more New Yorkers turn out for the mayoral primary than typically do. I’m signed up to volunteer for several candidates, but I also want to just help people make a plan to vote. Do you know if there are any groups doing that? My internet search didn’t turn up much! Answer: You’re right that many of the get-out-the-vote pushes are tied to the current primary candidates, especially because we’re in the middle of petitioning season. And it may be a smidge early for other broader voter outreach, but here are some places to start: Sign up for the NYC Votes initiative, run by the city’s nonpartisan Campaign Finance Board. Volunteer opportunities should be published there over the next few weeks, their spokesperson told me. Additionally, Rank the Vote, a voter-focused organization founded by various local good-government groups, is hosting monthly calls to discuss voter outreach strategies for the city, according to Nia Alvarez-Mapp, the education and outreach organizer at Common Cause New York. You can email her at nalvarez-mapp@commoncause.org for more information!
Conclusion
The comptroller election is an important one, with major responsibilities and a significant impact on the city’s finances. With candidates like Mark Levine and Justin Brannan vying for the seat, it’s essential to stay informed and get involved in the election process. Whether you’re volunteering for a candidate or helping to get out the vote, every effort counts in making a difference in the city’s future.
FAQs
Q: What is the role of the comptroller?
A: The comptroller is the city’s fiscal watchdog, responsible for overseeing billions of taxpayer dollars, including City Hall’s spending, audits of city agencies, and managing the public pension funds.
Q: Who are the candidates for comptroller?
A: The candidates for comptroller are Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and City Councilmember and finance chair Justin Brannan of Brooklyn.
Q: How can I get involved in the election process?
A: You can sign up to volunteer for a candidate, participate in get-out-the-vote efforts, or join organizations like NYC Votes or Rank the Vote to make a difference in the election.
Q: What is the deadline for city campaign finance disclosures?
A: The next deadline for city campaign finance disclosures is March 13.
