Thursday, September 10, 2009
Queens can’t lose in this year’s election for comptroller, the second most important elected position in New York City’s government. Not only are there three fine Democratic candidates from Queens in the race, the fourth is from Brooklyn and just as concerned about the outer boroughs as the others.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face Republican candidate Joe Mendola. Given the city’s electoral breakdown, the Democratic nominee will almost certainly be the next comptroller.
We hope that person is City Councilman John Liu of Flushing.
Liu is an aggressive, no-nonsense public servant who always acts with the public in mind. His constituent service is boundless, he’s always accessible and he seems to work 24/7, happily declaring that what he does isn’t really work. That’s a great approach that will translate well to the grinding duties of the comptroller’s office.
More importantly, however, Liu has the background needed to make the most of the position. Before going into politics, he was a manager for the financial consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. On the City Council, he has been the fiscal watchdog he promises to remain as comptroller, going after the MTA over its record-keeping and pressing the city to stop giving out no-bid contracts to firms doing work for the Department of Education.
As comptroller, Liu would have much greater ability to monitor such agencies and to audit the Education Department contracts in particular. If he is elected, we can look forward to a steady stream of reports that should result in the public’s dollar being much more carefully spent.
Liu also stresses a “back to basics” approach to investing the city’s all-important public employee pension fund. The fund lost significant value when the stock market declined, and he knows there are bargain investments to be had now under the simple but often forgotten rule: buy low and sell high. Now is a time to buy.
Liu’s primary opponents, council members David Weprin of Hollis, Melinda Katz of Forest Hills and David Yassky of Brooklyn, are also fine public servants. Each had some ideas for the comptroller’s office we liked and some we did not. It was Liu’s tireless dedication and willingness to listen that put him over the top in our book — and we hope he takes the best of his competitors’ ideas into the office.
Liu’s personal story also speaks to his drive to succeed. The son of Asian immigrants, he embodies the American Dream in his rise to powerful public office. This may not be the last citywide office he seeks (hint, hint), but for this year, we’re proud to endorse John Liu for city comptroller.
However you vote, vote!
Officials expect a weak voter turnout, perhaps as low as 10 percent, in Tuesday’s primaries, which in the city are largely limited to Democrats. That’s a shame, in part because many races will really be decided then, not in November, since Republican contenders often are such long shots.
The bigger
worry is that too many people take American
democracy for granted. It can’t survive that
way. Want to ask what you can do for your
country, rather than what it can do for you?
Answer number one is to exercise the
decision-making right to vote that so many
have died to protect. All the rights we
enjoy hinge on performing that one civic
duty. It’s essential that you find the time
to do your part.
