New York State Comptroller
Encyclopedia
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state
of New York
. The duties of the comptroller
include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.
appointed an Auditor-General to settle the public accounts. After his resignation, the Council of Appointment
appointed an Auditor to succeed. In 1797, the office of the State Comptroller was created by the State Legislature to succeed the State Auditor. The Comptroller was appointed by the Council of Appointment
to a one-year term, and could be re-appointed without term limit. In 1800, the Legislature reduced the salary of the Comptroller from $3,000 to $2,500, and Samuel Jones declined to be re-appointed.
Under the Constitution of 1821, the Comptroller was elected by joint ballot of the New York State Legislature to a three-year term. Under the Constitution of 1846, the office became elective by general election, and the Comptroller was elected with the other state cabinet officers in odd years to a two-year term, serving in the second year of the governor in office and the first year of the succeeding governor. The comptroller was elected in 1895 to a three-year term, and subsequently the state officers were elected in even years and served a two-year term concurrently with the governor. In 1926, the responsibilities of the New York State Treasurer
were transferred to the Comptroller as the head of the Department of Audit and Control. Since 1938, the comptroller has been elected to a four-year term, like the governor.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The duties of the comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.
History
In 1776, the New York Provincial CongressNew York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
appointed an Auditor-General to settle the public accounts. After his resignation, the Council of Appointment
Council of Appointment
The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:...
appointed an Auditor to succeed. In 1797, the office of the State Comptroller was created by the State Legislature to succeed the State Auditor. The Comptroller was appointed by the Council of Appointment
Council of Appointment
The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:...
to a one-year term, and could be re-appointed without term limit. In 1800, the Legislature reduced the salary of the Comptroller from $3,000 to $2,500, and Samuel Jones declined to be re-appointed.
Under the Constitution of 1821, the Comptroller was elected by joint ballot of the New York State Legislature to a three-year term. Under the Constitution of 1846, the office became elective by general election, and the Comptroller was elected with the other state cabinet officers in odd years to a two-year term, serving in the second year of the governor in office and the first year of the succeeding governor. The comptroller was elected in 1895 to a three-year term, and subsequently the state officers were elected in even years and served a two-year term concurrently with the governor. In 1926, the responsibilities of the New York State Treasurer
New York State Treasurer
The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the...
were transferred to the Comptroller as the head of the Department of Audit and Control. Since 1938, the comptroller has been elected to a four-year term, like the governor.
New York State Comptrollers
| Name | Took office | Left office | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Sands Comfort Sands Comfort Sands was an American merchant, banker and politician.-Life:Sands was a member of the New York Provincial Congress, the body which appointed him the first New York State Auditor-General in 1776. He resigned the office in 1782. In 1784, he became one of the first directors of the Bank of... |
July 24, 1776 | March 23, 1782 | as Auditor-General | |
| Peter T. Curtenius Peter T. Curtenius Peter Theobaldus Curtenius was an American merchant and politician.-Life:He was the son of Rev. Anthonius Curtenius, a clergyman of the Dutch Church who had come from Holland to the United States. In August 1755, he married Catharine Goelet , and their children were Elizabeth Curtenius , Anthony... |
April 2, 1782 | 1797 | as Auditor | |
| Samuel Jones Samuel Jones (NY comptroller) Samuel Jones was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Jones and Phoebe Jones .... |
March 15, 1797 | March 12, 1800 | ||
| John Vernon Henry John Vernon Henry John Vernon Henry was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was admitted to the bar in 1782. He was a Federalist member from Albany County of the New York State Assembly from 1800 to 1802. He was New York State Comptroller from 1800 to 1801... |
March 12, 1800 | August 10, 1801 | Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
|
| Elisha Jenkins Elisha Jenkins Elisha Jenkins was an American politician who served as New York Secretary of State and Mayor of Albany.-Life:... |
August 10, 1801 | March 16, 1806 | Dem.-Rep. | appointed Secretary of State |
| Archibald McIntyre Archibald McIntyre Archibald McIntyre was an American merchant and politician.-Life:... |
March 26, 1806 | February 12, 1821 | Dem.-Rep./Clintonian | |
| John Savage John Savage (Congressman) John Savage was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
February 12, 1821 | January 29, 1823 | Dem.-Rep. | elected Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties... |
| William L. Marcy William L. Marcy William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:... |
February 13, 1823 | January 21, 1829 | Dem.-Rep./Bucktail | elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties... shortly before the end of his second term |
| Silas Wright Silas Wright Silas Wright, Jr. was an American Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar... |
January 27, 1829 | January 4, 1833 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
elected a U.S. Senator during his second term |
| Azariah C. Flagg | January 11, 1833 | February 4, 1839 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
two terms |
| Bates Cooke Bates Cooke Bates Cooke was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of Captain Lemuel Cooke who had fought in the American Revolutionary War... |
February 4, 1839 | January 1841 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
resigned because of bad health |
| John A. Collier John A. Collier John Allen Collier was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
January 27, 1841 | February 7, 1842 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
elected to a term of three years, but in 1842 all Whig state officers were removed by Democratic majority of the State Legislature |
| Azariah C. Flagg | February 7, 1842 | December 31, 1847 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
two terms, legislated out of office by the Constitution of 1846 |
| Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president... |
January 1, 1848 | February 20, 1849 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
first Comptroller elected by general ballot; elected U.S. Vice President |
| Washington Hunt Washington Hunt Washington Hunt was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He moved to Lockport, New York in 1828 to study law, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and opened a law office on Market Street in 1835... |
February 20, 1849 | December 18, 1850 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
elected by the State Legislature to fill unexpired term, then re-elected, then elected Governor of New York Governor of New York The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her... |
| Philo C. Fuller Philo C. Fuller Philo Case Fuller was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
December 18, 1850 | December 31, 1851 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
appointed to fill unexpired term |
| John C. Wright John C. Wright (comptroller) -Life:He practiced at Esperance, New York. He was First Judge of the Schoharie County Court from 1838 to 1843.He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1843 to 1846.... |
January 1, 1852 | December 31, 1853 | Democratic | |
| James M. Cook James M. Cook James Merrill Cook was an American businessman, banker and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1854 | December 31, 1855 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
|
| Lorenzo Burrows Lorenzo Burrows Lorenzo Burrows was an American merchant, banker and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1856 | December 31, 1857 | American Know Nothing The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by... |
|
| Sanford E. Church Sanford E. Church Sanford Elias Church was an American lawyer and Democratic politician... |
January 1, 1858 | December 31, 1859 | Democratic | |
| Robert Denniston Robert Denniston Robert Denniston was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1860 | December 31, 1861 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
|
| Lucius Robinson Lucius Robinson Lucius Robinson was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 26th Governor of New York from 1877 to 1879.-Life:... |
January 1, 1862 | December 31, 1865 | Union National Union Party (United States) The National Union Party was the name used by the Republican Party for the national ticket in the 1864 presidential election, held during the Civil War. State Republican parties did not usually change their name.... |
two terms |
| Thomas Hillhouse Thomas Hillhouse (adjutant general) Thomas Hillhouse was an American farmer, banker and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1866 | December 31, 1867 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
|
| William F. Allen William F. Allen (New York) William Fitch Allen was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1868 | July 1, 1870 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
elected a judge of the New York Court of Appeals New York Court of Appeals The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms... |
| Asher P. Nichols Asher P. Nichols Asher P. Nichols was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
July 1, 1870 | December 31, 1871 | Democratic | appointed to fill unexpired term, elected for the remainder of the term in Nov. 1870 |
| Nelson K. Hopkins Nelson K. Hopkins Nelson Kerr Hopkins was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of General Timothy Soveral Hopkins and Nancy Ann Hopkins . Hopkins attended Fredonia Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in preparation for college... |
January 1, 1872 | December 31, 1875 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
two terms |
| Lucius Robinson Lucius Robinson Lucius Robinson was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 26th Governor of New York from 1877 to 1879.-Life:... |
January 1, 1876 | December 31, 1876 | Democratic | elected Governor of New York Governor of New York The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her... |
| Frederic P. Olcott Frederic P. Olcott Frederic Pepoon Olcott was an American banker and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1877 | December 31, 1879 | Democratic | appointed to fill unexpired term, then elected for a full term in Nov. 1877 New York state election, 1877 The 1877 New York state election was held on November 6, 1877, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer and the State Engineer, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-History:The Republican state... |
| James W. Wadsworth James Wolcott Wadsworth James Wolcott Wadsworth was an American farmer, soldier and statesman.-Life:... |
January 1, 1880 | December 31, 1881 | Republican | |
| Ira Davenport Ira Davenport (New York) Ira Davenport was an American politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1882 | December 31, 1883 | Republican | |
| Alfred C. Chapin Alfred C. Chapin Alfred Clark Chapin was an American lawyer and politician.-Early life:... |
January 1, 1884 | December 31, 1887 | Democratic | two terms |
| Edward Wemple Edward Wemple Edward Wemple was an American businessman and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1888 | December 31, 1891 | Democratic | two terms |
| Frank Campbell Frank Campbell Frank Campbell was an American banker and politician.-Life:He was the son of Lt. Gov. Robert Campbell and Frances Fowler Campbell. He was educated at Haverling Academy and at Trenton, New Jersey.In 1879, he married Mary Louise Willson , and their son was Willson R... |
January 1, 1892 | December 31, 1893 | Democratic | |
| James A. Roberts James A. Roberts James Arthur Roberts was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1894 | December 31, 1898 | Republican | two terms (1894-95, 1896-98) |
| William J. Morgan William J. Morgan (New York) William James Morgan was an American newspaper editor and politician.-Life:He came to the United States when 10 years old, and attended the public schools in Buffalo, New York.... |
January 1, 1899 | September 5, 1900 | Republican | died in office |
| Theodore P. Gilman Theodore P. Gilman Theodore P. Gilman was an American banker and politician.-Life:He was the son of Winthrop Sargent Gilman and Abia Swift Lippincott Gilman. He graduated from Williams College in 1862, where he was a member of The Kappa Alpha Society, and graduated A.M. in 1865. He married Elizabeth Drinker Paxson... |
September 5, 1900 | December 31, 1900 | Republican | as First Deputy Comptroller acted until being appointed to fill unexpired term |
| Erastus C. Knight Erastus C. Knight Erastus Cole Knight was an American businessman and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1901 | December 28, 1901 | Republican | elected Mayor of Buffalo |
| Nathan L. Miller | December 30, 1901 | November 1903 | Republican | appointed to fill unexpired term, then elected for a full term in Nov. 1902, then resigned to take office as a justice of the New York Supreme Court New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties... |
| Otto Kelsey Otto Kelsey Otto Goodell Kelsey was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
November 12, 1903 | May 2, 1906 | Republican | appointed to fill unexpired term, then elected for a full term in Nov. 1904, then appointed Superintendent of Insurance |
| William C. Wilson William C. Wilson (NY comptroller) -Life:He was the Republican boss of the Twenty-Seventh Assembly District in New York City, and had a law office at 55, Liberty Street.On May 3, 1900, he was appointed by Comptroller William J. Morgan one of the first five New York State Transfer Tax Appraisers for New York County under the new... |
May 2, 1906 | December 31, 1906 | Republican | as First Deputy Comptroller acted until being appointed on November 8 to fill unexpired term |
| Martin H. Glynn Martin H. Glynn Martin Henry Glynn was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the US.... |
January 1, 1907 | December 31, 1908 | Democratic | |
| Charles H. Gaus Charles H. Gaus Charles Henry Gaus was an American businessman and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1909 | October 31, 1909 | Republican | died in office |
| Otto Kelsey Otto Kelsey Otto Goodell Kelsey was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
October 31, 1909 | November 11, 1909 | Republican | as First Deputy Comptroller acted until the appointment of a successor |
| Clark Williams Clark Williams Myron Clark Williams was an American banker and politician.-Life:... |
November 11, 1909 | December 31, 1910 | Republican | appointed to fill unexpired term |
| William Sohmer William Sohmer William Sohmer was an American politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1911 | December 31, 1914 | Democratic | two terms |
| Eugene M. Travis Eugene M. Travis Eugene Mabbett Travis was an American businessman and politician from New York. He was New York State Comptroller from 1915 to 1920.-Life:... |
January 1, 1915 | December 31, 1920 | Republican | three terms |
| James A. Wendell James A. Wendell James Augustus Wendell was an American politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1921 | May 10, 1922 | Republican | died in office |
| William J. Maier William J. Maier William J. Maier was an American politician.-Life:... |
May 10, 1922 | December 31, 1922 | Republican | as First Deputy Comptroller acted until being appointed on May 22 to fill unexpired term |
| James W. Fleming James W. Fleming James Wheeler Fleming was an American businessman, banker and politician.-Life:... |
January 1, 1923 | December 31, 1924 | Democratic | |
| Vincent B. Murphy Vincent B. Murphy Vincent Bernard Murphy was an American politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Daniel B. Murphy. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I.... |
January 1, 1925 | December 31, 1926 | Republican | |
| Morris S. Tremaine Morris S. Tremaine Morris Sawyer Tremaine was an American businessman and politician.-Life:Tremain was born in Fort Dodge, Kansas. He was the son of Dr. William Scott Tremaine, an army surgeon from New York stationed at Fort Dodge, who was among the founders of the Town of Dodge City, Kansas in 1872... |
January 1, 1927 | October 12, 1941 | Democratic | seven terms, died in office |
| Harry D. Yates Harry D. Yates Harry Douglas Yates was an American banker and politician from New York. He was for a short time Acting New York State Comptroller in 1941.-Life:... |
October 12, 1941 | October 17, 1941 | Democratic | as First Deputy Comptroller acted until the appointment of a successor |
| Joseph V. O'Leary Joseph V. O'Leary Joseph V. O'Leary was an American politician.-Life:In 1938, he ran on the American Labor ticket for New York State Attorney General, but was defeated.... |
October 17, 1941 | December 31, 1942 | American Labor American Labor Party The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic... |
appointed to fill unexpired term |
| Frank C. Moore Frank C. Moore Frank Charles Moore was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Conventions of 1938 and 1967... |
January 1, 1943 | December 31, 1950 | Republican | two terms |
| J. Raymond McGovern J. Raymond McGovern J. Raymond McGovern was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was a partner in the law firm of McGovern, Connelly & Davidson in New Rochelle.... |
January 1, 1951 | December 31, 1954 | Republican | |
| Arthur Levitt, Sr. Arthur Levitt, Sr. Arthur Levitt was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He served in the U.S... |
January 1, 1955 | December 31, 1978 | Democratic | six terms, longest-serving Comptroller (24 years) |
| Edward Regan | January 1, 1979 | May 7, 1993 | Republican | resigned in the middle of his fourth term |
| Carl McCall Carl McCall Herman Carl McCall is a former Comptroller of New York State and was the Democratic candidate for state governor in 2002. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for numerous corporations. He received a B.A. degree from Dartmouth... |
1993 | December 31, 2002 | Democratic | elected by State Legislature to fill unexpired term, then re-elected twice |
| Alan Hevesi Alan Hevesi Alan G. Hevesi is a Democratic politician whoserved 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... |
January 1, 2003 | December 22, 2006 | Democratic | re-elected to a second term, but resigned prior to its commencement |
| Thomas Sanzillo Thomas Sanzillo Thomas Sanzillo is an American investment banker, financial advisor and politician.He began working in the Comptroller's Office in 1994, and was appointed First Deputy Comptroller by Alan Hevesi in 2003... |
December 22, 2006 | February 7, 2007 | as First Deputy Comptroller acted until the election of a successor by the State Legislature | |
| Thomas DiNapoli Thomas DiNapoli Thomas P. DiNapoli is the 54th Comptroller of the state of New York. He is a former state assemblyman in New York, who was appointed as New York State Comptroller on February 7, 2007. He was formerly the Chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. DiNapoli is a Democrat from... |
February 7, 2007 | present | Democratic | elected by the State Legislature to fill unexpired term |