New York City Comptroller election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The 2009 election for New York City Comptroller
was held on November 3, 2009 to coincide with the 2009 mayoral election
. The Democratic
and Republican
primaries were held on September 15, 2009. There was a run-off election for the Democratic Party nomination on September 29, 2009.
Joe Mendola was nominated as the Republican candidate. John Liu
was nominated the candidate of the Democratic Party; he is also on the Working Families Party
line in November. Liu won the race and was elected Comptroller, becoming the first Asian American
to be elected to a city-wide office.
They were:
In March 2009, Liu announced that he is running for the post of New York City Comptroller
. As part of this bid, Liu donated $10,000 to the Working Families Party
, which endorsed him less than 6 months later.
Liu has raised $3 million for his political run, more than his competitors.
Beginning in May, Liu picked up several endorsements. The Village Independent Democrats, The Queens County Democratic organization, the local Americans for Democratic Action
chapter and the Working Families Party
, 1199 SEIU union local and the Uniformed Firefighters Association endorsed him. On September 1, the United Federation of Teachers
endorsed Liu.
Most (about 65) of the 108 write-in votes were for Salim Ejaz, over 40 of which were cast in Brooklyn.
Source: Board of Elections in the City of New York http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/results.html
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
was held on November 3, 2009 to coincide with the 2009 mayoral election
New York City mayoral election, 2009
The 2009 election for Mayor of New York City took place on Tuesday, November 3. The incumbent Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, an independent who left the Republican Party in 2008, won reelection on the Republican and Independence Party/Jobs & Education lines with 50.7% of the vote over the retiring City...
. The 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...
and 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...
primaries were held on September 15, 2009. There was a run-off election for the Democratic Party nomination on September 29, 2009.
Joe Mendola was nominated as the Republican candidate. John Liu
John Liu
John Chun Liu is a New York City elected official, currently serving as New York City Comptroller. Liu previously served on the New York City Council representing District 20...
was nominated the candidate of the Democratic Party; he is also on the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
line in November. Liu won the race and was elected Comptroller, becoming the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
to be elected to a city-wide office.
Democratic nomination
Four candidates sought the Democratic Party nomination.They were:
- Melinda Katz, City CouncilNew York City CouncilThe New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
member and former State AssemblywomanNew York State AssemblyThe 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... - John LiuJohn LiuJohn Chun Liu is a New York City elected official, currently serving as New York City Comptroller. Liu previously served on the New York City Council representing District 20...
, City Council member - David WeprinDavid WeprinDavid I. Weprin is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 24 in Queens since 2010. He was previously a member of the New York City Council, representing district 23...
, City Council member and former Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Banking Commission - David YasskyDavid YasskyDavid S. Yassky is a former member of the New York City Council. First elected in 2001, he represented the 33rd Council District, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope.Yassky is a graduate of Princeton...
, City Council member
In March 2009, Liu announced that he is running for the post of New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
. As part of this bid, Liu donated $10,000 to the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
, which endorsed him less than 6 months later.
Liu has raised $3 million for his political run, more than his competitors.
Beginning in May, Liu picked up several endorsements. The Village Independent Democrats, The Queens County Democratic organization, the local Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
chapter and the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
, 1199 SEIU union local and the Uniformed Firefighters Association endorsed him. On September 1, the United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
endorsed Liu.
Primary election
In the September 15 Democratic primary, Liu was the front-runner, ending up with 133,986 votes, or 38 percent of the vote.Run-off election
Because he did not manage to reach 40 percent of the vote, a run-off election was required between Liu and runner-up Yassky, who received 30 percent of the vote in the primary. The Daily News wrote that Yassky and Liu slung mud in a spirited debate on September 24, 2009. On September 29, Liu won the run-off by taking 55.6% of the vote against Yassky.Polling
| Source | Sample size | Date | Katz | Liu | Weprin | Yassky | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA | 2,200 | August 14–18, 2009 | 22% | 23% | 12% | 15% | 28% |
Democratic primary election
First round, Tuesday, September 15, 2009| 2009 Democratic Primary | Manhattan Manhattan Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York... |
The Bronx The Bronx The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated... |
Brooklyn Brooklyn Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated... |
Queens Queens Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States.... |
Staten Island Staten Island Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay... |
Total | % |
| John C. Liu | 36,625 | 18,888 | 42,727 | 37,658 | 4,458 | 140,356 | 37.8% |
| 32.9% | 42.5% | 36.8% | 43.2% | 37.0% | |||
| David Yassky David Yassky David S. Yassky is a former member of the New York City Council. First elected in 2001, he represented the 33rd Council District, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope.Yassky is a graduate of Princeton... |
44,272 | 9,882 | 40,775 | 16,671 | 3,162 | 114,762 | 30.9% |
| 39.8% | 22.2% | 35.1% | 19.1% | 26.3% | |||
| Melinda Katz | 21,143 | 11,400 | 20,115 | 20,211 | 3,342 | 76,211 | 20.5% |
| 19.0% | 25.6% | 17.3% | 23.2% | 27.8% | |||
| David I. Weprin David Weprin David I. Weprin is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 24 in Queens since 2010. He was previously a member of the New York City Council, representing district 23... |
9,223 | 4,285 | 12,366 | 12,630 | 1,077 | 39,581 | 10.7% |
| 8.3% | 9.6% | 10.7% | 14.5% | 8.9% | |||
| all Write-Ins | 14 | 5 | 75 | 10 | 4 | 108 | 0.03% |
| T O T A L | 111,277 | 44,460 | 116,058 | 87,180 | 12,043 | 371,018 |
Most (about 65) of the 108 write-in votes were for Salim Ejaz, over 40 of which were cast in Brooklyn.
Democratic primary run-off election
As no candidate had received 40% of the Democratic vote for this office in the September 15 primary, a run-off election between the two most-popular candidates was held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009.| 2009 Democratic Run-off Primary | Manhattan Manhattan Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York... |
The Bronx The Bronx The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated... |
Brooklyn Brooklyn Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated... |
Queens Queens Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States.... |
Staten Island Staten Island Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay... |
Total | % |
| John C. Liu | 36,906 | 18,019 | 43,120 | 33,237 | 3,818 | 135,100 | 56.0% |
| 47.6% | 65.2% | 57.1% | 62.0% | 55.6% | |||
| David Yassky David Yassky David S. Yassky is a former member of the New York City Council. First elected in 2001, he represented the 33rd Council District, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope.Yassky is a graduate of Princeton... |
40,644 | 9,633 | 32,391 | 20,391 | 3,047 | 106,106 | 44.0% |
| 52.4% | 34.8% | 42.9% | 38.0% | 44.4% | |||
| T O T A L | 77,550 | 27,652 | 75,511 | 53,628 | 6,865 | 241,206 | |
General election
John Liu won the general election held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.| 2009 general election | party | Manhattan | The Bronx | Brooklyn | Queens | Staten Island | Total | % |
| John C. Liu | Democratic | 191,748 | 95,795 | 203,499 | 180,249 | 33,242 | 704,533 | 72.2% |
| Working Families Party Working Families Party The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP... |
12,635 | 3,404 | 18,641 | 8,811 | 2,310 | 45,801 | 4.7% | |
| Total | 204,383 | 99,199 | 222,140 | 189,060 | 35,552 | 750,334 | 76.9% | |
| 81.0% | 83.7% | 80.0% | 73.5% | 50.5% | ||||
| Joseph A. Mendola | Republican | 39,103 | 15,166 | 43,718 | 57,266 | 29,803 | 185,056 | 19.0% |
| 15.5% | 12.8% | 15.7% | 22.3% | 42.3% | ||||
| Stuart Avrick | Conservative Conservative Party of New York The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years.... |
|3,325 | 2,119 | 6,439 | 6,818 | 3,930 | 22,631 | 2.3% |
| 1.3% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 5.6% | ||||
| Salim Ejaz | Rent Is Too High Rent Is Too Damn High Party The Rent Is Too Damn High Party is a political party in New York that has nominated candidates for mayor of New York City in 2005 and 2009 and for governor and senator in 2010. Jimmy McMillan was the mayoral candidate both times and a candidate for governor. In 2005, he received more than 4,000... |
3,614 | 1,569 | 3,422 | 2,607 | 691 | 11,903 | 1.2% |
| John Clifton | Libertarian | 2,022 | 525 | 1,946 | 1,488 | 389 | 6,370 | 0.7% |
| Total Write-ins | 15 | 7 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 66 | 0.01% | |
| Total Votes | 252,462 | 118,585 | 277,685 | 257,253 | 70,375 | 976,360 | ||
Source: Board of Elections in the City of New York http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/results.html
See also
- New York City ComptrollerNew York City ComptrollerThe Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
- Government of New York CityGovernment of New York CityThe government of New York City is organized under the City Charter and provides for a "strong" mayor-council system. The government of New York is more centralized than that of most other U.S...
- New York City mayoral election, 2009New York City mayoral election, 2009The 2009 election for Mayor of New York City took place on Tuesday, November 3. The incumbent Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, an independent who left the Republican Party in 2008, won reelection on the Republican and Independence Party/Jobs & Education lines with 50.7% of the vote over the retiring City...
- New York City Public Advocate election, 2009New York City Public Advocate election, 2009The election of the New York City Public Advocate took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, along with elections for the Mayor, the City Comptroller, borough presidents, and members of the New York City Council...