Thomas DiNapoli
Thomas DiNapoli | |
---|---|
![]() New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli | |
54th Comptroller of the State of New York | |
Assumed office February 7, 2007 | |
Governor | Eliot Spitzer David Paterson Andrew Cuomo |
Preceded by | Alan Hevesi Thomas Sanzillo (acting) |
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 16th district | |
In office 1987–2007 | |
Preceded by | May Newburger |
Succeeded by | Michelle Schimel |
Personal details | |
Born | [1] Rockville Centre, New York[2] | February 10, 1954
Political party | Democratic |
Residence | Great Neck Plaza, New York |
Alma mater | Hofstra University The 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 appointed 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 2010, he narrowly won reelection.[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 representative to the Mineola Board of Education.[1] At the age of 18 in 1972, he was the youngest person in New York State history to hold 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]
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 Assemblywoman May Newburger, whom he succeeded. He was elected to the New York State Assembly to represent the 16th District in Northwest Nassau County in 1986. DiNapoli was later elected Chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee. In 2001, he lost the Democratic nomination for Nassau County Executive to Glen Cove Mayor Thomas Suozzi, who won the seat. In 2006, DiNapoli was a candidate for lieutenant governor, but dropped out of the race after State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the party's frontrunner for governor, chose Senate Minority Leader David Paterson as his running mate for lieutenant governor.
State Comptroller
Election
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/New_York_State_Comptroller_DiNapoli%27s_Inauguration.jpg/220px-New_York_State_Comptroller_DiNapoli%27s_Inauguration.jpg)
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 deemed qualified 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 are 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]
In July 2012 DiNapoli and his office staff were criticized for including the social security numbers of 319 state lawmaker in a database news release to Gannett News Service which for a time was posted on a public news website.[15]
2010 election
DiNapoli was up for election in November 2010.[16] On May 1, 2010, he won the Democratic Rural Conference’s Straw Poll by acclamation.[17] 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.[18] He received the nomination of the Working Families Party for comptroller.[citation needed]
In November 2010, he narrowly won reelection.[3] DiNapoli claimed victory early the morning of November 3,[3] and Harry Wilson conceded later in the morning.[19]
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. DiNapoli's mother, Adeline, was a records clerk for the county police department.[20] On September 1, 2013 he received the honorary citizenship in the small town of Paduli, in the province of Benevento - Italy being his grandfather born in those places. On October 13, 2013, DiNapoli was honored as the, St. Mary's Benevolent Society (Kingston, NY) Italian American of the year.
References
- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ a b "Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c Sam Dolnick, "Thomas DiNapoli Re-Elected Comptroller in a Tight Race," New York Times, November 3, 2010, found at New York Times website. Accessed November 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Biography: Thomas P. DiNapoli". New York State Office of the State Comptroller. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c Thomas DiNapoli at linkedin.com
- ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 7, 2007). "Capitol Confidential: Roll Call". Times Union.
- ^ Newsday website[dead link]
- ^ Times Union story[dead link]
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ Elizabeth Benjamin, "DiNapoli Talks Tough," Daily News, April 5, 2010, found at Daily News website, accessed April 5, 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Mark Leitner, "Comptroller Calls for More Budget Reforms," WNED News 970, March 10, 2010. Found at WNED-AM website, accessed April 5, 2010.
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/albany-lawmakers-furious-news-website-mistakenly-posts-social-security-numbers-online-article-1.1115056
- ^ Erie County Board of Elections website page on 2010 Offices to be Elected. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- ^ [1] Accessed June 22, 2010.
- ^ [2]. Accessed June 22, 2010.
- ^ "DiNapoli Wins with Late Comptroller Returns". Long Island Press. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
- ^ [3].
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- New York State Office of the State Comptroller official state site
- The New York Times - Times Topics: Thomas P. DiNapoli collected news stories and commentary
- Letter Written To The New York Times In Response To An Article About New York's Small, Freshwater Wetlands
- "Instant reformer: Face to Face with Thomas P. DiNapoli," (Pensions & Investments)
- 1954 births
- Living people
- American people of Italian descent
- Members of the New York State Assembly
- New York State Comptrollers
- New York Democrats
- Nassau County, New York politicians
- Hofstra University alumni
- School board members in the United States
- People from North Hempstead, New York
- United States presidential electors, 2008