Comptroller Candidates Debate

November 5th, 2018

Last Monday, incumbent Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Republican challenger Jonathan Trichter met in a televised debate. (Watch the debate here.)

The state Comptroller is the head of the Department of Audit and Control.  The Comptroller’s responsibilities include auditing government operations and serving as the sole trustee of the state’s retirement system.

The two candidates sparred over President Trump, the performance of the state’s pension funds and sexual harassment settlements. Trichter called DiNapoli “an Albany insider” who has “protected the status quo.”  He said that the state pension fund, which DiNapoli has sole oversight of, has not performed as well as other large pension funds around the country. DiNapoli defended his stewardship of the state’s pension fund, touted his office’s work in saving taxpayer money and fighting corruption in partnership with the New York Attorney General.