Sorry Joe, not this year -
The panel established to recommend replacements for former Comptroller Alan Hevesi has released their list of five candidates - no, wait, three candidates I guess, and surprise, surprise the Democratic legislative majority selected three downstate Democratic candidates.
First Spitzer appoints a Pennsylvanian as the Upstate Empire Zone chief and now our region does not get so much as a nod of acknowledgment in the oversight of New York's economic development. Those of us north and west of Albany continue to be politically alienated in a system dominated by a region that is geographically, economically and culturally unlike our own.
The dog and pony show public hearings, which were supposed to produce a final list of five candidates, divided 17 hours among 18 candidates. The panel made its selections based on the submission of a resume and just over half an hour of public statements. Could the public be any less informed on these candidates? The kicker is that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has made it very clear that the legislative body is not obligated to make their ultimate selection from the recommendations of the panel, meaning that what little information the public does have on the candidates could be thrown out the window and an unknown Party tool could be inserted as the holder of the state purse.
Where is Governor Spitzer who has called for a political outsider and reformer to replace Hevesi? Eerily quiet . . .
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