Alan Hevesi

Alan Hevesi
53rd Comptroller of New York
In office January 1, 2003 – December 22, 2006
Governor	George Pataki
Preceded by	Carl McCall
Succeeded by	Thomas DiNapoli Thomas Sanzillo (acting)
41st Comptroller of New York City
In office January 1, 1994 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Elizabeth Holtzman
Succeeded by	Bill Thompson
Personal details
Born	January 31, 1940 (1940-01-31) (age 71)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Carol Hevesi
Religion	Jewish

Alan G. Hevesi (born January 31, 1940) is a Democratic politician who served as a New York State Assemblyman from 1971 to 1993, as Comptroller of the City of New York from 1994 to 2001, and as State Comptroller for the State of New York from 2003 to 2006. Hevesi is originally from Queens, New York, and is of Jewish faith.^{[1][dead link]}

Hevesi was first elected State Comptroller in 2002 and won re-election in 2006.^[2] However, he resigned from office effective December 22, 2006, as part of a plea bargain with the Albany County Court, based on his personal use of state employees to care for his ailing wife, in lieu of a grand jury indictment. In February 2007 Hevesi was sentenced to a $5000 fine and permanently banned from holding elective office again; he received no jail time and no probation.^[3] He later plead guilty to corruption charges surrounding a "pay to play" scheme regarding the New York State Pension Fund, and was sentenced to 1–4 years on April 15, 2011.^[4]

Background

Alan Hevesi is the son of the late Dr. Eugene Hevesi, a Hungarian-born leader in the American Jewish community who served as foreign affairs secretary for the American Jewish Committee and as representative to the United Nations for several Jewish NGOs.^[5] His brother is Dennis Hevesi, a reporter for The New York Times.^[6] His grandfather was Simon Hevesi, Chief Rabbi of Budapest prior to World War II.

Alan Hevesi received his PhD in Public Law & Government from Columbia University in 1971. He earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Queens College, CUNY. The title of his doctoral dissertation was Legislative Leadership in New York State. His dissertation has been archived by University Microfilms International [1] and the document number is 7201325. [2]

Hevesi and his wife Carol have been residents of Forest Hills, Queens.^[7]

Political career

State Assembly

From 1971 to 1993, Hevesi represented Queens in the New York State Assembly, rising to chair various committees and be considered a potential Assembly Speaker. Simultaneously (from 1967 to 1993), he was an associate professor of political science at Queens College in Flushing, New York.

Hevesi claims credit for authoring 108 laws as an assemblyman. He is a close ally of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

NYC Comptroller

He first unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Nomination for City Comptroller in 1989; he was defeated by Brooklyn District Attorney and former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman. In 1993, he came back to challenge Holtzman in the primary, following ethics accusations against Holtzman. Holtzman had taken a questionable loan from Fleet Bank, which Hevesi assailed her on during an NY1 debate. Hevesi was also supported by Geraldine Ferraro, a former Congresswoman and Vice Presidential running mate of Walter Mondale. Ferraro, upset over Holtzman's 1992 Senate race attack, even went as far to encourage her candidacy to oppose Holtzman. (Hevesi and Ferraro would later become estranged.) The politically powerful health care union Local 1199, led by Jennifer Cunningham, gave Hevesi its endorsement. Hevesi defeated Holtzman to secure the Democratic nomination. Hevesi then defeated former Congressman Herman Badillo, the Republican candidate in the general election.

He served two terms as New York City Comptroller from 1994 to 2002, when he was term-limited out of the office.

State Comptroller

In 2001, Hevesi sought the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York, running on the platform of "Most Experienced, Best Qualified". He finished fourth, behind Public Advocate Mark J. Green, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. Hevesi was the Liberal Party nominee for Mayor in the general election, but did not campaign in the race; instead, he endorsed Green for mayor in the general election. Following his defeat in the mayor's race, Hevesi started his campaign for state comptroller, which he won, defeating Republican John Faso, 50% to 46%.

As State Comptroller, Hevesi served as the state's chief fiscal officer and as head of the state Department of Audit and Control. In New York, the comptroller signs state checks, handles state bookkeeping, conducts audits of state and local finances, and issues economic forecasts. The comptroller also serves as the sole trustee of the state pension system, an important role in the investment community based on the value of New York State's investment portfolio.

On December 22, 2006, CNN reported that "[N]ew York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi entered into a plea agreement which included his immediate resignation Friday to avoid a felony indictment by a New York State grand jury charging him with defrauding the government by having staffers drive his wife and assist her in with personal matters from 2003–2006. Hevesi pleaded guilty to Superior Court Filing of defrauding the government, a Class E felony, and will pay a $5,000 fine. Hevesi admitted the wrongdoing when allegations surfaced in November, and has repaid the state more than $200,000."

Hevesi was re-elected as New York State comptroller in 2006. Had he not resigned, he would have begun his second term of office on January 1, 2007.

Controversies

The New York Post in an editorial questioned Hevesi's use of financial advisers as campaign contributors (Alan Hevesi's advisers, November 11, 1996). As City Comptroller he got to choose the city bond underwriters. According to a New York Post editorial, Hevesi hired a female minority owned firm, Philadelphia based P.G. Corbin & Co. Hevesi used discretionary funds in the amount of $1.58 million. Back in 1995, Hevesi's office suspended Corbin for failing to pay $5,900 in city corporate taxes.

A Hevesi favored firm, San Francisco-based Grigsby Brandford & Co, was involved in a bribery scandal in 1995. Hevesi seen as a champion of minority causes now found himself in a difficult position. He had no comment.

Bayside, New York, activist Joyce Shepard of the Citizens Action Committee for Change tried to highlight the issue of abused women. She contacted Hevesi's office to investigate. Hevesi issued a critical report on the Giuliani administration. On April 17, 1997, she was at New York City Hall with both Giuliani and Hevesi side by side. They promised more space for victims of domestic abuse. Despite all the promises nothing happened. She went undercover to expose the shortcomings of the shelter system. She criticized both Hevesi and Giuliani. After she was quoted by the Village Voice Hevesi reportedly phoned her and told her: "Don't you ever call my office about anything again!". The comptroller's office didn't deny the call took place. But a spokesman stated the office is open to anyone who thinks something is going on we should know about (Mission Unfullfilled, New York Newsday, Janison, D. July 20, 1997).

As state comptroller, Hevesi faced a conflict of interest allegation in relation to a private capital fund "Markstone". According to the New York Sun (Hevesi's Advice Stirs Questions On the Coast, Gerstein, J., May 11, 2006). The opening paragraph stated, The New York State comptroller, Alan Hevesi, encouraged California pension managers to invest in a private capital fund founded by a man whose wife has been a generous donor to his political campaigns. The story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Hevesi met with his California counterpart, comptroller Steve Westly and Elliot Broidy. Elliot Broidy of Markstone Capital Group. They met on May 19, 2003, in order to "pitch" the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to invest in Markstone. Markstone was a fund that invested in Israeli companies. The Sun reported that in June 2003, Mr. Hevesi invested $200 million in Markstone. Mr. Broidy is a major Republican political contributor. Mr. Broidy did not directly contribute to Hevesi's political campaigns, but his wife did. His wife, Robin Rosenzweig, gave $80,000 since 2002. Before the May 2003 meeting she gave $30,000 and $50,000 afterwards. She also contributed to Andrew Hevesi's state assembly race. On October 7, 2010, Hevesi pleaded guilty to accepting gratuities for steering the investment funds to California venture capitalist Elliot Broidy. Hevese, accepted $75,000 in trips for himself and his family, $500,000 in campaign contributions and benefited from $380,000 given to a lobbyist.^[8]

At a commencement address he delivered at Queens College on June 1, 2006, Hevesi told his audience that Senator Charles Schumer was so tough he would "put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it." Several hours after his remarks, Hevesi apologized for his comments, calling them "beyond dumb," "remarkably stupid," and "incredibly moronic."^[9]

While attending the New York State Association of Counties conference on September 28, 2006, Hevesi had one of his state employed press aides tape record the speech of his opponent, Christopher Callaghan.^{[10][dead link]}

On October 2, 2006, allegations arose that Hevesi fired receptionist Alexander McHugh, who filed a charge of sexual harassment. Hevesi's office stated that the receptionist did not cooperate with their investigation into the matter and that "...found no evidence of sexual harassment." McHugh filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.^{[11][dead link]}

Controversy regarding a chauffeur for Hevesi's wife

On September 21, 2006, Alan Hevesi admitted that he used Nicholas Acquafredda as a state employee to drive and aid his ailing wife. In 2003, Hevesi claims that the State Ethics Commission decided that he would pay back the entire cost of driving around his wife unless it is for specific safety purposes. A spokesperson from the State Ethics Commission denies such a decision was made.

On September 26, 2006, Hevesi said he will pay the state more than $82,000 for having a public employee chauffeur his wife, after his Republican challenger, Christopher Callaghan, asked the Albany County District Attorney's office to investigate. Callaghan first phoned in the complaint to the State Comptroller's own State funds-abuse/fraud hotline. Hevesi had admitted the previous week that he had not reimbursed the state. Callaghan, in addition to the Republican party's nominee for the state governor race, John Faso, also called for Hevesi's resignation. The Attorney General (who was seeking the Democratic party's state governor nomination), Eliot Spitzer, withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi.

The controversy stimulated interest in the candidacies of Callaghan and minor party candidates Julia Willebrand of the Green Party and John Cain of the Libertarian Party.^{[12][dead link]} Hevesi claimed that the drivers were needed to provide security detail to his wife, though a bipartisan ethics panel concluded that the state police found no threat that justified such an arrangement. The panel also concluded that Hevesi had no intention of repaying the state for the driver services until Callaghan publicly filed a complaint.^[13]

On October 12, 2006, Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office acknowledged that it was officially investigating actions by Hevesi regarding the public employee hired to chauffeur his wife.^{[14][dead link]} On October 23, 2006, the Ethics Commission deemed that Hevesi's actions involving the chauffeur may have violated state law.^{[15][dead link]}

On November 3, 2006, Hevesi was ordered by the office of state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to pay the state $90,000 – in addition to the $83,000 he has already paid – in compensation for what has been deemed an improper use of a state employee.^{[16][dead link]} Hevesi said was just a mistake and apologized in a new TV ad, in which he says, “I'm asking you to weigh my mistake against my 35 years of public service, I’m human...I'm a good comptroller who did a dumb thing"[3]^{[dead link]}

On December 12, 2006, Hevesi agreed to a deal that calls for the $90,000 in escrow money to be turned over to the state and for him to pay an additional $33,605 within 10 days, making his payback total $206,000. It was revealed that Hevesi had actually hired four, not the two employees initially thought for his wife's 'security detail' and said employees were running personal errands according to the report from the Attorney General Office.^{[17][dead link]}

On December 13, 2006, a poll conducted between December 5 and December 11 by Quinnipiac showed that 45% of people in New York felt that Hevesi should resign and 43% felt he had paid his debt to the state. 1,144 registered voters in New York were polled with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.^[18]

On December 14, 2006, the Albany County District Attorney acknowledged that he had a strong enough case to indict Hevesi (see beginning of page for judicial resolution).^{[19][dead link]}

The scandal came to a close in February, 2007 when, after pleading guilty in December 2006 to a charge of defrauding the government, Hevesi was sentenced by Judge Stephen Herrick in Albany County Court to a $5,000 fine and barred permanently from elected office. As part of the plea deal, he was given no jail time, and received no probation.^{[3][dead link]} Prior to sentencing, Hevesi paid the state more than $200,000 in restitution. Hevesi expressed remorse for his actions and told the judge: "I'm culpable, I'm responsible and I apologize."

Felony Conviction and Sentence

Alan Hevesi, having plead guilty on corruption was sentenced to 1–4 years on April 15, 2011.^[4][20]

Disgraced former New York state Comptroller Alan Hevesi spent his first full day in lockup in the prison infirmary, the New York Post reported Sunday. State correction officials confirmed that Hevesi, who was sentenced to one to four years Friday for pocketing $1 million in improper benefits to approve pension-fund investments run by cronies, is currently incarcerated at the Mid-State Correctional Facility. The 72-year-old politician, initially was sent to a medical unit at the Ulster Correctional Facility was issued a green uniform, a short haircut, and a new moniker: inmate 11-R-1334.^[21] Hevesi will be most likely isolated from the general population. He can be released, at the earliest, on February 13, 2012.

Holocaust restitution sanctions by states and municipalities

By December 1997, Hevesi as Comptroller of the City of New York enlisted the weight and soundness of his City's finances in the cause of forcing Swiss banks to meet the demands of the World Jewish Congress and other organizations then suing Swiss banks over Nazi-era bank balances the WJC said was owing to the heirs of victims of the Holocaust, joined eventually by both then-Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani and then-Governor of New York State George Pataki. In his book on the subject, Norman Finkelstein dubs him "the godfather of Holocaust restitution sanctions."^[22]

He recruited the financial officers of many other states and municipalities in the US to similarly place the powers and responsibilities entrusted to them by their employers at the service of this cause, at one point calling them to a conference in his own city at which they discussed ways and means of coordinating their individual actions for maximum effect.^[23] Sanctions took the forms, variously, of withdrawing balances from (the US branches of) Swiss banks, disinvestment in Swiss banks and their various investment vehicles, disinvestment in Swiss companies, and in companies of other nationalities with operations or markets in Switzerland. Hevesi and a number of his accomplices further undertook to deny regulatory permissions to Swiss banks seeking to expand their activities in their jurisdictions.

This effort against Switzerland having seemed successful in securing the $1.25 billion (1999) settlement, Hevesi then brought the power of the ad hoc network he had constructed to bear in subsequent actions against Germany, Austria, and other countries,^[24] where its use also was deemed successful in raising the amounts of the settlements.

Payoffs to Raymond Harding for political favors

On October 6, 2009, Raymond Harding, chairman of the Liberal Party of New York, pleaded guilty to charges that he accepted $800,000 from aides to Hevesi when Hevesi was comptroller of the state of New York.^[25] In 2005, Harding had secured employment at the Health Insurance Plan of New York for the incumbent State Assemblyman in District 28 (Queens), who then did not run for re-election so that Hevesi's son, Andrew, could run for State Assemblyman. The younger Hevesi ran successfully and took his seat in the Assembly in 2005. Alan Hevesi thanked Harding for his assistance in his son's election.

Electoral history

2002 Democratic Primary for state Comptroller

• Alan Hevesi, 63%
• William Mulrow, 37%

2002 Race for state Comptroller

• Alan Hevesi (D), 50%
• John Faso (R), 46%

2006 Race for state Comptroller

• Alan Hevesi (D), 56.37%
• Christopher Callaghan (R), 39.45%
• Julia Willebrand (Green), 2.78%
• John Cain (LBT), 0.99%
• Willie Cotton (SWP), 0.40%

Election tickets on which Hevesi has appeared

1993 NYC Democratic Ticket

• Mayor: David Dinkins
• Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi

1997 NYC Democratic Ticket

• Mayor: Ruth Messinger
• Public Advocate: Mark J. Green
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi

2001 NYC Liberal Party Ticket

• Mayor: Alan Hevesi
• Public Advocate: Scott Stringer
• Comptroller: Herbert Berman

2002 NYS Democratic Ticket

• Governor: Carl McCall
• Lieutenant Governor: Dennis Mehiel
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
• Attorney General: Eliot Spitzer

2006 NYS Democratic ticket

• Governor: Eliot Spitzer
• Lieutenant Governor: David Paterson
• Comptroller: Alan Hevesi
• Attorney General: Andrew Cuomo
• U.S. Senate: Hillary Rodham Clinton

Publications

Books

• Marilyn Gittell and Alan G Hevesi (1969). The Politics of Urban Education. Praeger. 

• Alan G Hevesi (1975). Legislative politics in New York State : a comparative analysis. Praeger. ISBN 0-275-05520-5. 

Journal articles

• Leon G. Hoffman, Alan G. Hevesi, Paul E. Lynch, Peter J. Gomes, Nancy J. Chodorow, Ralph Roughton, Barney Frank, Susan Vaughan, Leon (2001-01-29). "Homophobia: Analysis of a Permissible Prejudice: A Public Forum of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the American Psychoanalytic Foundation". Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy 4 (1): 5–53. doi:10.1300/J236v04n01_02. ISSN 08917140. https://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?sid=HSKB1TXP1AB78MRUAX1K2JKD4F9U5Q44&ID=525. 

• Alan G. Hevesi (Sep 21, 1995). "The Effectiveness Of The NYC Department Of Juvenile Justice's Aftercare Program". Juvenile Justice Digest 23 (18): 1. ISSN 00942413. 

Newspaper articles

• Alan G. Hevesi (July 8, 1999). "New lead paint law protects landlords, not children". New York Amsterdam News. ISSN 00287121 

• Alan G. Hevesi (July 9, 1998). "A stand must be taken". USA Today: pp. 11A. ISSN 07347456 

• Alan G. Hevesi (April 25, 1987). "When Blacks and Jews Pull Together". New York Times: pp. 1.31. ISSN 03624331 

See also

• New York State Comptroller
• New York Comptroller election, 2006

References

1. ^ http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13460
2. ^ Cardwell, Diane (November 8, 2006). "Despite Accusations, Hevesi Is Re-elected New York’s Comptroller". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/nyregion/08hevesi.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fH%2fHevesi%2c%20Alan%20G%2e&oref=slogin. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "The Chauffeurgate Scandal Finally Ends for Alan Hevesi". News 10 – Albany. February 10, 2007. http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?s=6065594. Retrieved 2011-05-03. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Former State Comptroller Hevesi To Face Prison Time". NY1 News. April 15, 2011. http://www.ny1.com/content/137441/former-state-comptroller-hevesi-to-face-prison-time. Retrieved April 15, 2011. 
5. ^ "Dr. Eugene Hevesi, 87, A Jewish Leader, Dies". The New York Times. February 17, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/17/obituaries/dr-eugene-hevesi-87-a-jewish-leader-dies.html. Retrieved March 20, 2009. 
6. ^ Navarro, Mireya (July 15, 1993). "A Comptroller Candidate Fights for Recognition". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/15/nyregion/a-comptroller-candidate-fights-for-recognition.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved March 20, 2009. 
7. ^ Navarro, Mireya. " A Comptroller Candidate Fights for Recognition", The New York Times, July 15, 1993. Accessed October 8, 2007. "A native New Yorker, Mr. Hevesi lives in Forest Hills with his wife, Carol."
8. ^ http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/The-Man-Who-Betrayed-His-Trust-Hevesi-Update-Sidebar-104512464.html
9. ^ "Hevesi Apologizes for Remarks". 1010 WINS. June 2, 2006. http://www.1010wins.com/pages/41908.php. 
10. ^ Mahoney, Joe (September 29, 2006). "Hevesi aide working on campaign". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/regional/story/456703p-384339c.html. 
11. ^ Smith, Ben (October 2, 2006). "Eliot pick a warning for union: Local 1199's clout may be on wane". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/457458p-385010c.html. 
12. ^ Lucadamo, Kathleen (October 30, 2006). "Flap-happy day for underdogs". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/10-30-2006/news/story/466461p-392506c.html. 
13. ^ http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2006/12/23/news/nation_world/nation01.txt
14. ^ ".". New York Newsday. October 2006. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--comptrollersrace1012oct12,0,19756.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork. 
15. ^ ".". New York Newsday. October 2006. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-sthevi1024,0,6208672.story?coll=ny-nycnews-headlines. 
16. ^ "Comptroller Alan Hevesi ordered to pay more". WHEC-TV. November 3, 2006. http://www.10nbc.com/news.asp?template=item&story_id=20653. 
17. ^ Hammond, Bill (December 12, 2006). "Drowning in denial". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/479815p-403746c.html. 
18. ^ ".". Quinnipiac University. December 13, 2006. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1318.xml?ReleaseID=999. 
19. ^ Lovett, Kenneth (December 14, 2006). "A Hev-y Hitter". New York Post. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/479815p-403746c.html. 
20. ^ "Ex-NY state comptroller Alan Hevesi gets prison in pension fund pay-to-play scandal". Wall Street Journal. April 15, 2011. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP418e81b4ed1f4ff9b6ed477f9e6670ac.html. Retrieved April 15, 2011. 
21. ^ Lovett, kenneth (April 17, 2011). "Former Controller Alan Hevesi begins prison stint in an infirmary ward room Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/04/17/2011-04-17_hevesis_in_prison_infirmary.html#ixzz1JqaU5fuO". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/04/17/2011-04-17_hevesis_in_prison_infirmary.html. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
22. ^ Bazyler, Michael J. Holocaust Justice. New York University Press, New York, 2003, p. 21.
23. ^ Rickman, Gregg. Swiss Banks and Jewish Souls. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, N. J., 1999, p. 205.
24. ^ Finkelstein, Norman. The Holocaust Industry. Verso, New York, second paperback edition 2003, p. 121
25. ^ "Ex-Political Boss Pleads Guilty in Pension Case" New York Times. October 6, 2009.

External links

• New York State: Office of the State Comptroller

New York Assembly
Preceded by Emanuel Gold	New York State Assembly, 25th District 1971–1972	Succeeded by Vincent Nicolosi
Preceded by Alfred A. DelliBovi	New York State Assembly, 28th District 1973–1993	Succeeded by Melinda Katz
Political offices
Preceded by Elizabeth Holtzman	New York City Comptroller 1994–2001	Succeeded by Bill Thompson
Preceded by Carl McCall	New York State Comptroller 2003–2006	Succeeded by Thomas Sanzillo Acting
Party political offices
Preceded by Rudolph W. Giuliani	Liberal Party Nominee for Mayor of New York City 2001	Succeeded by Michael R. Bloomberg

Persondata
Name	Hevesi, Alan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 31, 1940
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death