Campaigns & Elections
NYC comptroller debate: a war of the wonks
Leading candidates Justin Brannan and Mark Levine agree that the Adams administration is as transparent as a brick wall when it comes to budgeting.
New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, right, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine squared off Tuesday in a debate-style forum as they vie to be New York City’s next comptroller. Citizens Budget Commission
Passionate discussion of budget units of appropriation, economically targeted investments and the Procurement Policy Board should tell you one thing: You’re at a New York City comptroller debate.
Leading candidates New York City Council Member Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine faced off at the first debate-style forum of the campaign cycle Tuesday, hosted by the appropriately wonky Citizens Budget Commission and New York Law School. With little daylight between the two on policy issues, Brannan and Levine largely aimed their criticism at budgeting practices of the current Adams administration and the threats to federal funding from the Trump administration. They promised faster payments to contractors, thorough audits of city agencies and to hold the city’s mayor accountable – whoever he or she may be.
Among the couple issues on which they differed, however, was how best to prepare for federal funding cuts. Levine favored building up budget reserves now, while Brannan said extra funds should be ready but was more hesitant about a move that could demonstrate to the Trump administration that the city is capable of absorbing massive cuts.
All that wonkiness is not to say the race isn’t political. Brannan and Levine have been working their way through elected officials, clubs and labor groups around the city for endorsements. And Levine has so far outraised Brannan, bringing in over $1 million in private donations to Brannan’s nearly $600,000 as of this week. Both have been approved for matching funds.
Not present at Tuesday’s debate was state Sen. Kevin Parker, who opened a campaign account for comptroller in August. He has been fundraising and spent money on petitioning, but has not run a highly active campaign so far. Present but not invited to participate at Tuesday’s debate was Ismael Malave, another candidate for comptroller who did not meet the requirements to take part, which included raising $125,000 in private donations by mid-February. Only Brannan and Levine met that threshold. Malave and his supporters, however, frequently interrupted the debate to protest his exclusion.