Martha Stark
Encyclopedia
Martha Stark was the Finance Commissioner of New York City
. A tax attorney
, she served as Finance Commissioner in the Cabinet
of Mayor Michael Bloomberg
from 2002 until 2009. She previously worked for the Manhattan Borough President, served as a White House Fellow at the United States Department of State and for the Finance Department before becoming commissioner. On April 28, 2009 Stark tendered her resignation due to stories fueled by people at Finance who were opposed to changes that she made in the agency to better serve the public. Her detractors seized on her romantic relationship with someone who she met while Finance Commissioner who had left the agency three years before she was asked to resign. While it's clear that Stark's actions were not a violation of the City's conflict laws, she resigned because she didn't want to cause the Mayor distractions during his re-election for a third term. Stark was the third longest serving Finance Commissioner in the City's history; and the longest serving Finance Commissioner since 1964.
In January 2007, she applied to the New York State Legislature for election to the vacant office of New York State Comptroller
, following the resignation of former Comptroller Alan Hevesi
. She testified before the Legislature and the search committee and was selected as one of three finalists by the search committee consisting of former State Comptroller Edward Regan, former State Comptroller Carl McCall
and former New York City Comptroller Harrison J. Goldin
. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
, upset that a member of the Assembly
was not on the finalist list, announced that the new comptroller would not come off the list of finalists and would be an assemblymember.
On Feb. 7, 2007 when the Legislature voted, Stark was one of two names put into nomination, along with Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli
of Long Island
, Silver's choice. The final vote was 150 for DiNapoli and 56 for Stark. Stark's main support came from Democrats in the Senate
, along with Republicans in both chambers. Stark's support in the Senate implies she had backing from Gov. Eliot Spitzer
and Lt. Gov. David Paterson
. Spitzer and Paterson both announced they preferred a comptroller being chosen off the list of finalists.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. A tax attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, she served as Finance Commissioner in the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
from 2002 until 2009. She previously worked for the Manhattan Borough President, served as a White House Fellow at the United States Department of State and for the Finance Department before becoming commissioner. On April 28, 2009 Stark tendered her resignation due to stories fueled by people at Finance who were opposed to changes that she made in the agency to better serve the public. Her detractors seized on her romantic relationship with someone who she met while Finance Commissioner who had left the agency three years before she was asked to resign. While it's clear that Stark's actions were not a violation of the City's conflict laws, she resigned because she didn't want to cause the Mayor distractions during his re-election for a third term. Stark was the third longest serving Finance Commissioner in the City's history; and the longest serving Finance Commissioner since 1964.
In January 2007, she applied to the New York State Legislature for election to the vacant office of New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
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.-History:...
, following the resignation of former Comptroller 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...
. She testified before the Legislature and the search committee and was selected as one of three finalists by the search committee consisting of former State Comptroller Edward Regan, former State Comptroller 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...
and former New York City Comptroller Harrison J. Goldin
Harrison J. Goldin
Harrison Jay Goldin is a lawyer and former New York politician. He served as New York City Comptroller from 1974 to 1989. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1973 and ran in the 1989 Democratic Primary election for Mayor of New York...
. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
, upset that a member of the Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
was not on the finalist list, announced that the new comptroller would not come off the list of finalists and would be an assemblymember.
On Feb. 7, 2007 when the Legislature voted, Stark was one of two names put into nomination, along with Assemblyman 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...
of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, Silver's choice. The final vote was 150 for DiNapoli and 56 for Stark. Stark's main support came from Democrats in the Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, along with Republicans in both chambers. Stark's support in the Senate implies she had backing from Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
and Lt. Gov. David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
. Spitzer and Paterson both announced they preferred a comptroller being chosen off the list of finalists.