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 ALBANY---There was a huge rift between New York Democrats Wednesday when the state Assembly led by Manhattan Democrat Sheldon Silver slapped down Gov. Eliot Spitzer to chose one of their own, Nassau Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, to succeed Alan Hevesi as state comptroller.
In January, Spitzer and leaders of the Legislature agreed to a merit-based process for the selection of a new comptroller which they said wouldl ensure the appointment of a highly qualified individual.
But when none of the Assemblymen who had applied for the position were among the top three candidates chosen by an independent panel, Silver said the Legislature would make the choice.
The panel chose three finalists for the comptroller's position, New York City finance commissioner Martha Stark, Bill Mulrow, an investment banker who made an unsuccessful bid for comptroller in 2002, and Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman.
Spitzer issued a letter Tuesday asking the lawmakers to abide by an earlier agreement but his plea fell on deaf ears and was considered a huge political defeat for him.
In a statement issued by Spitzer, he said the Legislature's action was further evidence of what's wrong with Albany. He said the choice of DiNapoli was a victory for "politics and cronyism" over "sound judgment". http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/audio/02072007RedRoomEmail.mp3
In a joint session, the Republican-controlled Senate and Democrat-controlled Assembly chose DiNapoli by a vote of 151-54, passing over Stark.
`We have just witnessed an insiders' game of self-dealing that unfortunately confirms every New Yorkers' worst fears and image of all that goes on in the Legislature of this state,'' Spitzer said at an Albany news conference.
DiNapoli was sworn in Wednesday afternoon. 2-07-07
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© 2007 North
Country Gazette
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