Should Hevesi Resign?

A number of politicians are calling for State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's resignation in the wake of the State Ethics Commission's report that asserted Hevesi lied about using a state driver for his wife's personal use. Naturally the Republicans are leading the chorus for resignation, but Attorney General and gubernatorial frontrunner Eliot Spitzer said he was evaluating whether to continue his support for Hevesi (who is running for re-election in less than two weeks). And if Spitzer rescinds his support, that could open the floodgates for other Democrats to do that same. State Democrats have been trying to figure out if they can remove him from the ballot, but to no avail.

Republican State Senate leader Joseph Bruno has asked for Hevesi's resignation, leading Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver to point out that Bruno supported former State Senator and bribery-taking Guy Velella for re-election. Yeah, but the Comptroller is supposed to watch dollars, Shelly. And Senator Hillary Clinton said that Hevesi was a friend of hers and has done a good job, but "he made a very serious mistake. There's a process that is going on right now that is established for dealing with this, and I don't have any role in it and I have no opinion about it." Governor Pataki does have the power to ask the Senate to remove Hevesi, but no word from him yet (he's probably waiting for Hevesi to resign first).

The Daily News is pissed because he "blew off" an appointment with its editorial board "with almost no warning." Hevesi's excuse was that he needs to prepare for his last-minute debate planned for tonight on NY1. The Politicker presented any interesting scenario:

One thing that should be noted amid the chorus of people calling for Alan Hevesi's resignation is the possibility that he could satisfy his loudest critics by resigning immediately, and still win re-election on November 7. Kind of like Brooklyn Assemblyman Roger Green did, but on a bigger scale.

If he did resign and were reelected, we think he might be replaced by a Democratic comptroller type - like City Comptroller William Thompson. But the State GOP now sees a chance for Chris Callaghan, who brought Drivergate to light, to win the election and is throwing resouces behind him.

And the driver lives on the Lower East Side!

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By Jen Chung in News on October 25, 2006 1:16 PM

Comments [rss]

Not Amused

Personally, I think the guy should let the voters decide wheather or not he should stay in politics . If they vote him out then he should just pack it in . Hevesi made some key mistakes in his office and is now being held responisible for those actions . Politics are a game for the strong- minded individuals, It's does take some guff to deal with something that Hevesi didn't think of when he used a state employee to shuttle his sickly wife around .

mh

I am not Star Jones | October 25, 2006 7:40 PM

_________________________

You are correct. You are not Star Jones. She is smarter then you and would not pass judgement on a man she does not know. Nor would she sling her moral high ground speech at people when it doesn't fit. There is no higher standard when a person has done nothing wrong.

I am not Star Jones

I don't understand why it's okay for him to be forced into repaying the city for an expense that wasn't city related.

What if this was never revealed -- do you think Hevisi would have paid? I mean he paid it immediately so that means he HAD THE MONEY. He could write a check for five figures rather quickly.

Yeah, I'm holding Alan to a higher standard.

It is an arrogant abuse of his power and he should go into private practice. Or just drive his wife around himself.

60's mentality

He looks trust worthy to me. I dig a man that supports his wife in sickness and in health.

Murray Hillster

I'm with the earlier posters that don't see this worthy of ending a good (my opinion) politician's career. The violation of having your ailing wife driven around doesn't really shock the conscience like, I don't know, lying to start a war.

If people Joe Bruno took time out of their schedule to ask for Bush or Hastert to resign, I'd take their "concern" about Hevesi a little more seriously.

MT

Meanwhile George Bush who tries to rewrite the Constitution and rescinds habeas corpus and outright lies to the American people is okay to stay in office? The Republicans are such a bunch of hypocrits it makes me sick.

janine

He probably should resign, but using a driver for your ailing wife is very different than kickbacks. This shouldn't end his entire career permanently.

ethos

If resigning means still winning re-election on the 7th like Politicker predicted, then YES. Hevesi should remain in NY politics.

What he did was bad, agreed. But considering all the truly despicable political scandals of late, lying about a state driver chauffering your wife (who has back problems) ain't exactly #1 on my list. With everything Hevesi has done to promote & maintain diversity in the city, protect tenants' rights, and improve the living conditions for the poor and the elderly, I think people should move on already.