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Despite of a record victory, Governor-elect Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has to face a big problem: What do to with State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who was found guilty of violating state law by the State Ethics Commission. The NY Times speaks with people involved with Spitzer's discussions (they are anonymous, of course) about the matter:
“While a personally painful decision, it’s an easy decision because the facts are clear,” said one person with knowledge of the governor’s thinking on the issue. “What would the drive for greater accountability and a higher ethical standard mean if you tolerated that level of abuse? He will move swiftly and aggressively to remove him.The source was referring to Spitzer's platform of trying to reform Albany. The Times also explains that Spitzer would probably ask the Republican-controlled State Senate to remove Hevesi, since it's unlikely the Democratic-controlled Assembly, with Hevesi supporters like Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, would vote to impeach him. But if the Senate votes to remove Hevesi, he's probably be able to appeal the decision. There are many scenarios. If Hevesi resigns, the Legislature (controlled by the Democrats) could pick a successor. But if Spitzer removes him (via the Senate), then he gets to pick a successor.
Hevesi still contends that since he was re-elected with the public knowing that he used a state driver to chauffeur his sick wife (and apologized as well as paid back the state after the ethics report), he will stay in office for his full term. But, given what the Spitzer source told the Times, we have to wonder if Spitzer is trying to prepare the public for his decision - and pressure Hevesi into resigning. We wonder if Silver would ever try to convince Hevesi to step down, because that would give Silver a lot of influence in picking the next Comptroller.
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"[Hevesi] who was found guilty of violating state law by the State Ethics Commission. "
No!
Someday Jen Chung will read the report and get the facts right, but until then, here's what the Ethics Committee said:
"Pursuant to Executive Law §94(12)(b), the Commission hereby sends to the Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly this Notice of Reasonable Cause alleging that Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi violated Public Officers Law §74(3)(d) and (h)."
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/ethc/NORC/Hevesi.htm
"Notice of Reasonable Cause" is not "guilty."
In any case, the situation is strange in that the controversy has taken on a life of its own divorced from the reality that the majority of New Yorkers just don't care. Hevesi won in a landslide. The people have spoken.
Spitzer is backed into a corner because of his campaign promises. I can't imagine this is the way he wanted to lead off his term, taking out a popular comptroller.
But what can he do? He's the "ethical guy" and he has to draw a hard line of zero tolerance. If not, when he runs for president, Republicans will tar and feather him over this.
In any case, the situation is strange in that the controversy has taken on a life of its own divorced from the reality that the majority of New Yorkers just don't care. Hevesi won in a landslide. The people have spoken.
We have. What we actually said, though, was "No way are we ever going to vote for a Republican again." That's very different from approval or even indifference. I voted for him myself just because I was unwilling to let the GOP pick up an undeserved office (as though it deserved any), not because I actually want him to serve a single day longer.
The comptroller has to be a virtual saint; even a modest scandal of this nature is absolutely unacceptable. Get rid of him, now.
Like Mike B. said, a lot of people I know voted for him simply so that when he was kicked out of office, a new Democrat could be appointed.
To be fair, I also know people who voted for him because they consider what he did acceptable.
I cared a lot more about Jeanine Pirro's chauffeur scandal a while back, but this one shouldn't be tolerated either. I can understand why he did what he did, but he should have just paid for a private chauffeur for his wife.
the only reason i voted for him, was to keep a republican out of office. i am hoping that spietzer or the Legislature forces him to resign
Mr. Hevesi worked hard, and his wife needed a little extra help.
If a man can't take care of his kin, what good is he?
Let's cut him some slack.
Nobody is perfect.