| Thomas DiNapoli | |
|---|---|
| Tom DiNapoli, May 2009 | |
| 54th Comptroller of the State of New York | |
| Incumbent | |
| 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 | February 10, 1954 [1] Rockville Centre, New York[2] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Great Neck Plaza, New York |
| Alma mater | Hofstra University |
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 re-election.[3]
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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]
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.
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]
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 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]
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 election.[3] DiNapoli claimed victory early the morning of November 3,[3] and Harry Wilson conceded later in the morning.[18]
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 the phone company. For a time he was a shop steward for his union. DiNapoli's mother, Adeline, was a records clerk for the county police department.[19]
| New York Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by May Newburger |
New York State Assembly, 16th District 1987 - 2007 |
Succeeded by Michelle Schimel |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Tom Sanzillo Acting |
New York State Comptroller 2007–present |
Incumbent |
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