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Alan G. Hevesi (born January 31, 1940) hails originally from Queens, New York and is of Jewish descent.^[1] He is the former Comptroller of the State of New York. A Democrat, he also served as Comptroller of the City of New York from 1994 to 2002, and as a New York State Assemblyman from 1968 to 1993. Hevesi was first elected State Comptroller in 2002 and won re-election in 2006. ^[2] He was not sworn in for his second term, as he resigned from office effective December 22, 2006, based on a plea bargain with the Albany County Court. The plea deal called for him to plead guilty to one count of defrauding the government, based on his personal use of state employees to care for his ailing wife, in lieu of a grand jury indictment. It is expected that he will receive no jail time at sentencing in February 2007. ^[3]

Contents 1 Educational background 2 Political career 2.1 State Assembly 2.2 NYC Comptroller 2.2.1 Audits and budgets 2.3 State Comptroller 3 Controversies 4 Chauffeurgate/Driving Mrs. Hevesi Scandal 5 Electoral history 6 City and state tickets Hevesi has run on 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Alan Hevesi received his Ph.D. in Public Law & Government from Columbia University in 1971. He earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Queens College, CUNY. The title of his doctoral dissertation was Legislative Leadership in New York State. His dissertation has been archived by University Microfilms International [1] and the document number is 7201325. [2]

From 1971 to 1993, Hevesi represented Queens in the New York State Assembly, rising to chair various committees and be considered a potential Assembly Speaker. Simultaneously (from 1967 to 1993), he was an associate professor of political science at Queens College in Flushing, New York.

Hevesi boasts of authoring 108 laws as an assemblyman. He is a close ally of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who employs Hevesi's daughter, Laura; Sheldon Silver, who represents NYC's Lower East Side and is one of the most powerful politicians in New York State, has been one of Hevesi's most ardent defenders.

He first unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Nomination for City Comptroller in 1989; he was defeated by Brooklyn District Attorney and former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman. In 1993, he came back to challenge Holtzman in the primary, following ethics accusations against Holtzman. Holtzman had taken a questionable loan from Fleet Bank, which Hevesi assailed her on during an NY1 debate. Hevesi was also supported by Geraldine Ferraro, a former Congresswoman and Vice Presidential running mate of Walter Mondale. Ferraro, upset over Holtzman's 1992 Senate race attack, even went as far to encourage his candidacy to oppose Holtzman. (Ironically, Hevesi and Ferraro would later become estranged.) The politically powerful health care union Local 1199, led by Jennifer Cunningham, gave Hevesi its endorsement. Hevesi claimed to be a fiscal expert, although he had no educational background in finance or economics. Thanks for the Fleet Bank scandal, Ferraro's endorsement, and the backing of Local 1199, Hevesi defeated Holtzman to secure the Democratic nomination. Hevesi then defeated former Congressman Herman Badillo, the Republican candidate in the general election.

He served two terms as New York City Comptroller from 1994 to 2002, when he was term-limited out of the office.

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Hevesi's budget and economic projections were at times wrong, predicting doom and gloom when the city's economy had actually rebounded. Where he saw deficits, surpluses emerged. During his tenure as city comptroller, his analysis of the city's economy and budget would often be off the mark, particularly when he was actively opposed to then Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. Predicting dire economic news was part of his staple and he often sounded the fiscal alarm bells only to be proven wrong. (A Hevesi Moment. Fiscal Woes Approaching, New York Newsday, Murray, C. E. April 28, 1996). Hevesi attended a discussion sponsored by the Long Island City Business Development Corp. He told the group, "[w]e are in trouble financially, I am not talking twenty five years down the road ... a pattern that robs our ability to provide services past 1997. As C. E. Murray explained, He predicted that without drastic alterations to the fiscal game plan, the city's budget for fiscal 1998" is going to be a disaster, and we are going to have to fire people."

Beginning in 1995, Hevesi's audits started generating many headlines, with the effect of both embarrassing the Giuliani administration and promoting his own candidacy for the upcoming 1997 mayoral race. His audits would often directly attack the Giuliani administration. One of the most notable auditing incidents that created an uproar was when Hevesi's auditors were reportedly denied access to foster group homes by the Human Resources Administration (Hevesi Stews After HRA bars food probers, New York Daily News, Siegel, J. August 22, 1995), (Hevesi Threatens To Sue City Hall in foster food, New York Post, Seifman, D. August 22, 1995), (Hevesi Says HRA Barred Spot Audit Of Foster Home New York Times, Firestone, D., August 22, 1995).

On an October 19, 1997 NBC Channel 4 NewsForum political discussion group, his then Republican opponent for comptroller, Anna Marie McAvoy, discussed with program moderator Gabe Pressman how she wanted to make the comptroller's office apolitical. She also questioned Hevesi's auditing. She remarked that "before he came into office to do as many audits as were done under Harrison Goldin (a former New York City comptroller). In fact Harrison Goldin did over 200 audits a year. As Mr. Hevesi says, they've only done 122 and that was in the past year. I think the year before that, he had even less. And I think the first year, he had, I think he had 57 the first year and 70 the second year on top of which Mr. Hevesi promises. I think, should be done when he campaigned the last time, that there should be follow-up audits, and he hasn't done that either -certainly not to the extent it should be done." The discussion continues about an FBI sting operation, etc.

Hevesi responded to McAvoy's charge as follows:

"Number one we we have do. I never promised that we'd do more audits than Mr. Goldin because Mr. Goldin had 1,200 employees, we have 810. We're down from the 900 Ms. Holtzman (another former city comptroller), so Ms. McAvoy's statement about us having more employees is absolutely untrue. Number two, we, we've done any number of follow up audits. We have impro - the 57 audits that she talked about was not my first year, it was Liz Holtzman's last year. We have more than doubled the number of audits we have provided. We have brought $229 million in savings, $50 million in cash already. And I'd really love to talk about a huge number of successes that we've had in the office."

In 2001, Hevesi sought the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York, running on the platform of "Most Experienced, Best Qualified". He finished fourth, behind Public Advocate Mark J. Green, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. Hevesi was the Liberal Party nominee for Mayor in the general election, but did not campaign in the race, rather he endorsed Green for mayor in the general election. Following his defeat in the mayor's race, Hevesi started his campaign for state comptroller, which he won, narrowly defeating Republican John Faso.

As State Comptroller, Hevesi served as the state's chief fiscal officer and as head of the state Department of Audit and Control. In New York, the comptroller signs state checks, handles state bookkeeping, conducts audits of state and local finances, and issues economic forecasts. The comptroller also serves as the sole trustee of the state pension system, an important role in the investment community based on the value of New York State's investment portfolio.

Hevesi's son Andrew was elected as an assemblyman from Queens in 2005. His other son, Daniel, served as a state senator from Queens from 1999 to 2003.

On December 22, 2006, Hevesi signed a plea bargain with Albany County whereby Hevesi pled guilty to a defrauding the government, would resign effective immediately, and not take the office of the Comptroller starting on January 1, 2007 when his second term would begin. He has a sentencing hearing on February 9, 2007 in Albany County Court. It is presumed that he will serve no jail time.

On December 22, 2006, CNN reported that "[N]ew York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi entered into a plea agreement which included his immediate resignation Friday to avoid a felony indictment by a New York State grand jury charging him with defrauding the government by having staffers drive his wife and assist her in with personal matters from 2003-2006. Hevesi pleaded guilty to Superior Court Filing of defrauding the government, a Class E felony, and will pay a $5,000 fine. Hevesi admitted the wrongdoing when allegations surfaced in November, and has repaid the state more than $200,000."

Hevesi, who was recently re-elected as New York State comptroller, would have begun his second term of office on January 1, 2007.

Many political officeholders solicit campaign funds from large contributors or reward groups and individuals for political reasons. Hevesi was no different. The New York Post in an editorial questioned his use of financial advisers as campaign contributors (Alan Hevesi's advisers, November 11, 1996). As City Comptroller he got to choose the city bond underwriters. According to a New York Post editorial, Hevesi hired a female minority owned firm. Philadelphia based P.G. Corbin & Co. Hevesi used discretionary funds in the amount of $1.58 million. Back in 1995, Hevesi's office suspended Corbin for failing to pay $5,900 in city corporate taxes.

Another Hevesi favored firm, San Francisco-based Grigsby Brandford & Co, was involved in a bribery scandal. Hevesi had other dealings involving bond underwriters in 1995. New York City used Barnes, McGhee, Segue & Harper as bond underwriters. A problem emerged, when it was disclosed that Joseph N. Barnes, a managing partner failed to file his federal income tax returns in 1987, 1988 and 1991. What made it more troubling was that it was a minority owned firm. Since 1991, the firm was co-counsel that provided legal advice and tax opinions on city debt. Hevesi seen as a champion of minority causes now found himself in a difficult position. He had no comment.

Bayside, New York activist Joyce Shepard of the Citizens Action Committee for Change tried to highlight the issue of abused women. She contacted Hevesi's office to investigate. Hevesi issued a critical report on the Giuliani administration. On April 17, 1997 she was at New York City Hall with both Giuliani and Hevesi side by side. They promised more space for victims of domestic abuse. Despite all the promises nothing happened. She went undercover to expose the shortcomings of the shelter system. She criticized both Hevesi and Giuliani. After she was quoted by the Village Voice Hevesi reportedly phoned her and told her: "Don't you ever call my office about anything again!". The comptroller's office didn't deny the call took place. But a spokesman stated the office is open to anyone who thinks something is going on we should know about (Mission Unfullfilled, New York Newsday, Janison, D. July 20, 1997).

As state comptroller Hevesi continued the practice of rewarding political contributors. According to the New York Sun (Hevesi's Advice Stirs Questions On the Coast, Gerstein, J., May 11, 2006). The opening paragraph stated, The New York State comptroller, Alan Hevesi, encouraged California pension managers to invest in a private capital fund founded by a man whose wife has been a generous donor to his political campaigns. The story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Hevesi met with his California counterpart, comptroller Steve Westly and Elliot Broidy. Elliot Broidy of Markstone Capital Group. They met on May 19, 2003 in order to "pitch" (CalPers), the California Public Employees Retirement System, to invest in Markstone. Markstone was a fund that invested in Israeli companies. The Sun reported that in June 2003, Mr. Hevesi invested $200 million in Markstone. Mr. Broidy is a major Republican political contributor. Mr. Broidy did not directly contribute to Hevesi's political campaigns, but his wife did. His wife, Robin Rosenzweig, gave $80,000 since 2002. Before the May 2003 meeting she gave $30,000 and $50,000 afterwards. She also contributed to Andrew Hevesi's state assembly race.

At a commencement address he delivered at Queens College on June 1, 2006, Hevesi told his audience that Senator Charles Schumer was so tough he would "put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it." Several hours after his remarks, Hevesi apologized for his comments, calling them "beyond dumb," "remarkably stupid," and "incredibly moronic." ^[4]

While attending the New York State Association of Counties conference on September 28, 2006, Hevesi had one of his state employed press aides tape record the speech of his opponent, Christopher Callaghan. ^[5]

On October 2, 2006, allegations arose that Hevesi fired receptionist Alexander McHugh, who filed a charge of sexual harassment. Hevesi's office stated that the receptionist did not cooperate with their investigation into the matter and that "...found no evidence of sexual harassment." McHugh filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.^[6]

On September 21, 2006, Alan Hevesi admitted that he used Nicholas Acquafredda as a state employee to drive around his wife. In 2003, Hevesi claims that the State Ethics Commission decided that he would pay back the entire cost of driving around his wife unless it is for specific safety purposes. A spokesperson from the State Ethics Commission denies such a decision was made.

On September 26, 2006, Hevesi said he will pay the state more than $82,000 for having a public employee chauffeur his wife, after his Republican challenger, Christopher Callaghan, asked the Albany County District Attorney's office to investigate. Callaghan first phoned in the complaint to the State Comptroller's own State funds-abuse/fraud hotline. Hevesi had admitted the previous week that he had not reimbursed the state. Callaghan and the Republican gubernatorial nominee ,John Faso, also called for Hevesi's resignation. The Attorney General (and at that time Democratic gubernatorial nominee), Eliot Spitzer, withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi.

The controversy stimulated interest in the candidacies of Callaghan and minor party candidates Julia Willebrand of the Green Party and John Cain of the Libertarian Party. ^[7] Hevesi claimed that the drivers were needed to provide security detail to his wife, though a bipartisan ethics panel concluded that the state police found no threat that justified such an arrangement. The panel also concluded that Hevesi had no intention of repaying the state for the driver services until Callaghan publicly filed a complaint. [3]

On October 12, 2006, Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office acknowledged that it was officially investigating actions by Hevesi regarding the public employee hired to chauffeur his wife. ^[8] On October 23, 2006, the Ethics Commission deemed that Hevesi's actions involving the chauffeur may have violated state law. ^[9]

On November 3, 2006, Hevesi was ordered by the office of New York State's Attorney General to pay the state $90,000 - in addition to the $83,000 he has already paid - in compensation for what has been deemed an improper use of a state employee.^[10] Hevesi said was just a mistake and apologized in a new TV ad, in which he says, “I'm asking you to weigh my mistake against my 35 years of public service, I’m human...I'm a good comptroller who did a dumb thing"[4]

On December 12, 2006, Hevesi agreed to a deal that calls for the $90,000 in escrow money to be turned over to the state and for him to pay an additional $33,605 within 10 days, making his payback total $206,000. It was revealed that Hevesi had actually hired four, not the two employees initially thought for his wife's 'security detail' and said employees were running personal errands according to the report from the Attorney General Office. ^[11]

On December 13, 2006, a poll conducted between December 5 and December 11 by Quinnipiac showed that 45% of people in New York felt that Hevesi should resign and 43% felt he had paid his debt to the state. 1,144 registered voters in New York were polled with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent. ^[12]

On December 14, 2006, the Albany County District Attorney acknowledged that he had a strong enough case to indict Hevesi (see beginning of page for judicial resolution). ^[13]

2002 Democratic Primary for state Comptroller

• Alan Hevesi, 63%
• William Mulrow, 37%

2002 Race for state Comptroller

• Alan Hevesi (D), 50%
• John Faso (R), 46%

2006 Race for state Comptroller

• Alan Hevesi (D), 56.37%
• J. Christopher Callaghan (R), 39.45%
• Julia Willebrand (Green), 2.78%
• John Cain (LBT), 0.99%
• Willie Cotton (SWP), 0.40%

1993 NYC Democratic Ticket

• Mayor: David Dinkins
• Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi

1997 NYC Democratic Ticket

• Mayor: Ruth Messinger
• Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi

2001 NYC Liberal Party Ticket

• Mayor: Alan Hevesi
• Public Advocate: Scott Stringer
• Comptroller: Herbert Berman

2002 NYS Democratic Ticket

• Governor: Carl McCall
• Lieutenant Governor: Dennis Mehiel
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
• Attorney General: Eliot Spitzer

2006 NYS Democratic ticket

• Governor: Eliot Spitzer
• Lieutenant Governor: David Paterson
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
• Attorney General: Andrew Cuomo
• U.S. Senate: Hillary Rodham Clinton

• New York State Comptroller
• New York Comptroller election, 2006

• New York State: Office of the State Comptroller

Preceded by Elizabeth Holtzman	New York City Comptroller 1994 – 2002	Succeeded by William C. Thompson, Jr.
Preceded by Rudolph W. Giuliani	Liberal Party Nominee for Mayor of New York City 2001	Succeeded by Michael R. Bloomberg
Preceded by Carl McCall	New York State Comptroller 2003 – 2006	Succeeded by Tom Sanzillo (acting)