The Hevesi Question

[sdelmonte]

This is a rare political post, but I need some advice...

If you followed NY politics, you know that state comptroller Alan Hevesi was found to have violated state ethics rules by appropriating a limo for his wife, claiming that it was necessary for her security, and passing the cost onto the taxpayers. He's up for reelection this week, as this was revealed too late for him to not be on the ballot.

I don't know what to do. His offense may or may not be criminal, but as he is in charge of keeping an eye on the state's money, his authority has been compromised. But the alternative is an inexperienced upstate Republican with political veiws I can't accept. I don't want to see him get the job.

So do I vote for a man who did a good job till now as first NYC comptroller and then state comptroller; vote for the other guy simply because Hevesi has forfeit the right to the job, or not vote for either? It's worth noting that I could vote for Hevesi on the assumption that he will resign and that the next governor, almost sure to be Democrat Eliot Spitzer, will appoint someone i can trust.

My inclination is to abstain for the first time in my life. I hat this choice. I like Hevesi. But he's violated the public trust. And the other guy is not appetizing at all.

What do you think?

Comments

[zsero.livejournal.com]

Well, I hate to give advice to a Democrat, but if I were in your shoes, given the views you've just stated, I'd vote for Hevesi and hope that he will have the grace to resign as soon as Spitzer's taken over, or that if he doesn't the Ds will cooperate in removing him.

But you should consider voting for the R candidate, regardless of the scandal. There's no doubt that Spitzer will be the next governor, and there's a lot to be said for having the comptroller of the opposite party to the governor. For the past 12 years we've had an R governor and D comptrollers; 8 years ago when the Rs swept every other statewide office, the Ds held the comptroller's spot, because enough voters voted R for everything else and D for that. I think their motive was to have a member of the opposition auditing the books. Now that we're to have a D governor, we should have an R looking over his shoulder.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Is there another candidate running? Say, on the Libertarian line?

My Mom also wants to abstain from that election. But I could tell you some, um, interesting stories about Hevesi that make it unlikely I would ever vote for him, even before all this news. If you're still awake, ping me by email and I'll call you.

[sdelmonte]

I think if you tell me you have reasons not to vote for him, that's enough, since I trust your acumen as an actual politician.

There is a Green Party candidate, but I just can't bring myself to vote for her as a protest since she's totally unqualified. I take voting too seriously to ever just cast a protest vote. If the Grrens were actually interested in governing, and not just protesting, I could vote for them. But no, that's not their way.

And bigscary is right that a Libertarian as comptroller is absurd.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I don't know about a Libertarian comptroller being absurd; I once voted on that line for city comptroller, because I didn't like the other choices. I figured that anyone whose basic philosophy was to keep the government from spending money would be meticulous about checking every single expendenture. (Also, they would have no chance.)

Another think you might consider doing is calling Hevesi's office and telling the people there exactly how you feel. Maybe that would convince Hevesi to make contrition tomorrow.

[bigscary.livejournal.com]

I'd say vote Hevesi, but I'm biased.

To be fair to him, as missteps go, this is minor -- limo usage is rampant in the executive branch, and it could have been an honest mistake, were he not in the position he is.

On the other hand, voting for a republican, no matter where or for what office or how inoffensive, is a vote for torture, and it makes you a willing party to said torture.

I'd say either vote Hevesi or pull no lever (is Working Families running someone, or are they just fusioning Hevesi?) As for voting Libertarian, the idea of a Libertarian comptroller is kind of laughable.

[sdelmonte]

Working Families is using Hevesi as well.

[bigscary.livejournal.com]

It really is a pity what he did. I'm not sure he should step down, but I'm sure he should at the least make restitution (the general solution for "I gave a car to foo. Oops.") and give his position, I'm leaning more towards step down, as it's a position that REVOLVES around financial matters.