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New York-Apr. 29 - New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D), in a striking conflict of interest, is using his old boss, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D), to raise campaign cash, even though Mr. DiNapoli is supposed to be overseeing Mr. Silver's and the State Legislature's spending, state comptroller candidate Harry J. Wilson (R) today charged.
Mr. Silver is hosting a planned May 3rd fundraiser for Mr. DiNapoli at the Bistro Bar in Albany. (Invitation linked here.)
Mr. DiNapoli, who is reportedly a subject of investigation in the ongoing State Pension Fund Scandal, was handpicked by Mr. Silver to serve as comptroller in 2007, following the resignation of disgraced former comptroller Alan Hevesi (over the objections of a governor and an expert panel that found Mr. DiNapoli unqualified for the office). Prior to that, Mr. DiNapoli was a member of the State Assembly for 20 years.
"If Mr. DiNapoli does not see this as wrong, the state is in worse shape than so many of us fear," Mr. Wilson said. "It is unethical for a sitting state comptroller to use a legislative leader, whom he's supposed to be overseeing, to raise campaign cash. Mr. DiNapoli is supposed to be a watchdog, not a lapdog. He must do the ethical thing and cancel this fundraiser, not rely on Mr. Silver or the other legislative leaders to raise campaign funds."
Posted by Team Wilson on 04/29 at 03:06 PM in
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Calls Event 'Blatant Conflict of Interest'; Questions Comptroller's Independence from Assembly Boss
New York-Apr. 28 - New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's (D) hosting of a fundraiser for unelected state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (D) is a clear conflict of interest and should be cancelled, the campaign of state comptroller Harry Wilson (R) today charged. And any money already raised for the event, should be returned, the Wilson campaign said.
Mr. Silver is hosting a May 3 fundraiser for Mr. DiNapoli at the Bistro Bar in Albany (invitation here), despite the fact that Mr. DiNapoli is supposed to be serving as the watchdog over Assembly and Senate spending.
"Tom DiNapoli is supposed to be looking over Mr. Silver's shoulder instead of rubbing elbows with him for campaign cash," said Wilson campaign manager Chapin Fay. "This is exactly the type of wink-wink fundraiser that Albany has become infamous for.Maybe Messrs Silver and DiNapoli should focus on passing a state budget on May 3rd instead."
Posted by Team Wilson on 04/29 at 02:10 PM in
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Harry wants to hear from you. E-mail him your story on how Albany is effecting you at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Listen to Harry recap his most recent news from the road on his Cause and Effect Tour.
Have you already checked out Act.ivi.st? If not, there is a great reason to do so! Not only can you help Harry with his campaign right from your own home, but now there is a great prize for the people who earn the most points on Act.ivi.st! On May 15th, Harry will announce from his campaign kickoff event the top two point earners from Act.ivi.st and they will both be invited to have lunch with Harry. So if you have not joined Act.ivi.st yet, now is the time to do so. It is really easy to use and you are helping Harry with his campaign to be your next State Comptroller.
Last week, at a meeting of the State Executive Committee of the New York State Conservative Party, a resolution was passed to recommend Harry Wilson for State Comptroller at the Spring Convention. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Chairman Mike Long noted that the leaders of the party were wholeheartedly on board with Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson brings a wealth of experience from the financial world, wit expertise in determine how to fix problems, particularly rooting out waste and inefficiencies Most voters focus on the top of the ticket, so it is important for voters to know that the comptroller candidate has the background necessary to manage the State’s assets,” said Long. “Harry Wilson will be able to draw on his experiences, especially from being able to negotiate with the members of the President’s Auto Task Force. As a fiscal conservative who believes in free markets, Harry wanted a say in how the auto bailout plan was administered. Harry Wilson was the right man then for that position and is the right man to be the sole trustee of New York’s retirement funds,” concluded Long.
Harry is excited to receive the endorsement of the full Conservative Party's executive committee. He is the only candidate state Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox and state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long have jointly endorsed to date. About Harry's campaign challenging Democrat Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long said:
“Most voters focus on the top of the ticket, so it is important for voters to know that the comptroller candidate has the background necessary to manage the State’s assets,” Long said in a press release.
“Harry Wilson will be able to draw on his experiences, especially from being able to negotiate with the members of the President’s Auto Task Force. As a fiscal conservative who believes in free markets, Harry wanted a say in how the auto bailout plan was administered.”
“Harry Wilson was the right man then for that position and is the right man to be the sole trustee of New York’s retirement funds.”
Posted by Team Wilson on 04/22 at 02:51 PM in
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Warren County Republican Chairman Michael Grasso has endorsed Harry for New York State Comptroller; read an excerpt from the press release below:
"Harry Wilson will bring sorely-needed professionalism to the office of the New York State Comptroller," Chairman Grasso said. "Harry has a powerful background in both private and public sector restructuring, and New York State taxpayers would be well served by that expertise. I am proud to endorse Harry for State Comptroller and I will do everything in my power to see him elected in November."
Posted by Team Wilson on 04/22 at 10:46 AM in
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Act.ivi.st is our brand new platform for giving people who would like to help with the campaign from right at home a meaningful, positive way to do so. Better still, those who do it most will be given prizes, based on a point system you can find on the site itself.
Here's an excerpt from Harry's recent profile in the New York Times:
Mr. Wilson, a Republican who grew up in Johnstown, a small town about an hour northwest of Albany, sees some of the same root problems and would like a chance to attack them by ousting the current comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Certainly, the recent history of the comptroller’s office under career politicians has been undistinguished and dotted with corruption, scandal and resignations in disgrace.
Mr. Wilson can claim both financial expertise (he essentially retired in his 30s) and apparent success in his recent entry to public service. As one of the top officials on President Obama’s automotive task force, he helped take General Motors into bankruptcy and bring it out rapidly as part of a sweeping industry overhaul.
Like G.M., New York has been in a fiscal tailspin. The aftereffects of the economic collapse have particularly weighed on a state that depends on revenue from Wall Street. Deficits are expected to escalate sharply in coming years as stimulus money expires, along with a temporary increase in state taxes on the wealthy.
Mr. Wilson, a Republican who grew up in Johnstown, a small town about an hour northwest of Albany, sees some of the same root problems and would like a chance to attack them by ousting the current comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Become a fan of Harry on Facebook. It takes just a couple of clicks, and it will give you access to the latest on Harry and his campaign for New York State Comptroller:
Harry sat down with Ira Stoll for an extended interview recently, and Ira put together an insightful, detailed look at Harry and his campaign for comptroller.
Excerpt:
Mr. Wilson says he's wrestled with the issue of shareholder litigation as a pension fund manager. He sees the importance of shareholder activism within capitalism, but he worries about setting a precedent for someone coming later who would be less thoughtful about when to be an activist. He seems to have concluded that as a general matter, as comptroller, he "would not be an active litigator."
I ask what he thinks, as a former private equity manager, about taxes on the carried interest of private equity managers. "I wouldn't support any new taxes," he says.
Mr. Wilson says he's wrestled with the issue of shareholder litigation as a pension fund manager. He sees the importance of shareholder activism within capitalism, but he worries about setting a precedent for someone coming later who would be less thoughtful about when to be an activist. He seems to have concluded that as a general matter, as comptroller, he "would not be an active litigator."
I ask what he thinks, as a former private equity manager, about taxes on the carried interest of private equity managers. "I wouldn't support any new taxes," he says.
