How Do You Solve a Problem Like Hevesi?
On Election Day, Alan Hevesi won re-election for State Comptroller, in spite of news that he used a state driver to chauffeur his wife for many years. This tidbit, offered by Republican challenger Christopher Callaghan, prompted: 1) A State Ethics Commission report that found Hevesi did violate state law; 2) For many Democrats, including Eliot Spitzer, to drop their endorsements; and 3) Governor Pataki to request an investigation on whether Hevesi should be removed. But now Hevesi says he plans to serve his full four-year term because he was voted by such a large margin of voters. Now what?
It's unlikely that Hevesi will be removed before the end of the year, which means it'll be up to Spitzer to deal with Alan. Spitzer still thinks Hevesi cannot perform his duties at Comptroller, but refused to comment about what should be done with Hevesi, because "that would violate the process the governor has put in place." (He'll start talking once he's in office.) However, Mayor Bloomberg gave his opinion:
"There's no question that the public in this case knew what happened and then went to the polls and exercised their franchise. It makes it more difficult, I think, for the State Legislature and the governor, current governor, next governor, to go against the will of the public."
Crap, what about the voters who thought "Well, if Pataki removes him, then the State Legislature selects someone else" or "Well, if he gets elected, maybe he'll resign under more pressure."
alan hevesi
eliot spitzer
Governor Pataki
state comptroller
State Ethics Commission