2Nd Democratic Primary Debate — Comptroller 1 DEBATE PARTICIPANTS

nd DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DEBATE COMPTROLLER Thursday, September 10, 2009, 7:00 pm 2 NY1 and WNYC Radio Father Joseph P. Parkes, S.J. The Campaign Finance Board is a nonpartisan, Chairman independent city agency that serves the public Art Chang interest by enhancing the role of New York City Richard J. Davis residents in the electoral process. Through Katheryn C. Patterson its administration of the Campaign Finance Mark S. Piazza Program, created in 1988, the CFB educates Board Members voters about the candidates and enables more citizens to compete for city office. The Amy M. Loprest Program amplifies the impact of New Yorkers’ Executive Director small contributions by matching them with public funds, reducing the possibility and Shauna Tarshis Denkensohn the perception of corruption associated with Deputy Executive Director large contributions and unlimited campaign Sue Ellen Dodell spending. General Counsel The CFB accomplishes its mission by: Elizabeth Bauer Chief of Administrative Services • Providing accessible, real-time public disclosure of campaign finances in city Daniel Cho elections. Director of Candidate Services • Administering the voluntary Campaign Eric Friedman Press Secretary Finance Program, which sets spending limits and provides public matching Peri Horowitz funds to eligible candidates. Director of Special Compliance & Policy Assurance • Enforcing the Campaign Finance Act uniformly and without bias. Diana Lundy Chief of Data Operations • Publishing and distributing the nonpartisan New York City Voter Guide. Kenneth O’Brien Director of Systems Administration • Coordinating the Debate Program for citywide candidates. Julius Peele Director of Auditing & Accounting Elizabeth A. Upp Director of Communications Peggy A. Willens Director of Management Analysis & Operations TABLE of CONTENTS

The Office of Comptroller ...... 1 Debate Participants ...... 2 – 5 Moderator and Panelists ...... 6 Sponsors ...... 7 – 8 CFB Debate Program ...... 9 Debate Schedule ...... back cover

THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER

The Comptroller is the city’s chief financial officer . The Comptroller’s responsibilities include: keeping the Mayor and the City Council informed about the city’s financial condition; making recommendations about the operations, fiscal policies, and financial transactions of the city; auditing city agencies and investigating all matters concerning the city’s finances; registering and auditing contracts; issuing and selling city bonds; managing the city-held sinking funds and other trust and pension funds; and performing analysis to eliminate waste and fraud in city operations . The Comptroller earns an annual salary of $185,000 .

Democratic Primary Candidates Melinda Katz John C. Liu David I. Weprin David Yassky

PLEASE NOTE: Other candidates may be on the ballot. Contact the Board of Elections for a complete list of all the candidates on the ballot.

2nd Democratic Primary Debate — Comptroller 1 DEBATE PARTICIPANTS

Melinda Katz Councilwoman Melinda Katz has always been a tough, no-nonsense fighter for New York’s hardworking, middle- class families . Born and raised in Queens by a single father following the tragic death of her mom, Melinda attended public schools her entire life and is no stranger to the challenges faced by families throughout the city, especially amid difficult economic times . In 1994, at the age of 28, she won election to the State Assembly, where she quickly took on the entrenched Albany special interests and passed bills such as the first law in the country forcing HMO’s to provide women access to OB/GYN care without a referral . In 2001, she was elected to the City Council, where she expedited New York’s recovery from 9/11 by getting the city building again and creating jobs, negotiated for nearly 90,000 units of affordable housing, and built schools in all five boroughs to reduce classroom size . Her commitment to working families goes hand-in-hand with her passion for protecting neighborhoods from overdevelopment — all told, she has preserved more than 6,000 city blocks, ensuring they retain the character and scale that has made them such cherished communities . As Comptroller, she’ll exert that same signature toughness to protect taxpayer dollars .

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.

2 New York City Campaign Finance Board John C. Liu As Chairperson of the Council’s Transportation Committee, John has focused public policy on the critical role transportation plays in economic development and job creation . He has also enacted legislation to improve pedestrian safety and ease congestion . John has rooted out waste in spending at city agencies such as the MTA, TLC and DOT . As a member of the Education Committee, John has fought to raise standards in our public schools and invest City resources wisely . He is a product of a public school education . John attended the Bronx High School of Science and Binghamton University, where he earned his degree in Mathematical Physics . John’s legislation includes: • Equal Access Bill (Local Law 73 of 2003) – Mandates language services in City agencies that provide health and human services; • Price-Gouging by Gas Stations Bill (Local Law 38 of 2006); and • School Zone Engine Idling Bill (Local Law 5 of 2009) – Limits engine idling near schools to one-minute . John Liu is the first Asian Pacific American to hold a citywide legislative office in New York City . Prior to serving in the City Council, John managed a team of pension Actuaries at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for fourteen years . John and his wife, Jenny, live in Flushing, Queens, with their son Joey .

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.

2nd Democratic Primary Debate — Comptroller 3 DEBATE PARTICIPANTS

David I. Weprin David Weprin has built a 20-year career in private finance and public finance . He is the only Comptroller candidate who can say this, and if elected intends to apply this knowledge to guide New York City toward a better and brighter future . David Weprin has designed the financing of infrastructure projects in cities and towns across America, and are examples of best practices in municipal finance . After September 11, 2001, David Weprin leveraged his power as Chair of the City Council’s Finance Committee to lead the City through the financial storm and back to calm shores . As Deputy Superintendent of Banks under former Governor Mario Cuomo, David Weprin kept watch of nearly 2 trillion dollars, and regulated 3,000 financial institutions. As a member of the New York City Tax Reform Task Force, David Weprin pushed through tax cuts, which had a positive impact on all New Yorkers . Eliminate the city sales tax on clothing and footwear costing under $110 . David Weprin’s credentials to serve the City and its residents as the next Comptroller remain unsurpassed among a crowded field . And New York City deserves nothing less than proven excellence .

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.

4 New York City Campaign Finance Board David Yassky For nearly eight years on the City Council, David Yassky has represented the neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn and Park Slope . He is the only Brooklynite in the race for Comptroller . As Chief Counsel to Chuck Schumer, he helped pass the most significant anti-crime statutes of the 1990s, including the Brady Law, Assault Weapons Ban and Violence Against Women Act . The New York Times has praised David for his “stellar record…leading groundbreaking work on gun control, affordable housing, the environment and job creation ”. He also worked in the City budget office and as a corporate lawyer . On the Council, David has been a progressive fighter for all New Yorkers by standing up to special interests and demanding accountability, integrity and responsibility . He sued Exxon-Mobil to clean up the Greenpoint oil spill, closed tax loopholes to ensure that luxury developers create affordable housing, and has already put the City budget online in a fully transparent, easy-to-use form (www.ItsYourMoneyNYC.com/). Yassky has identified millions of dollars of wasteful spending at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and passed the False Claims Act to reward whistleblowers who report fraud in City government .

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.

2nd Democratic Primary Debate — Comptroller 5 MODERATOR and PANELISTS

MODERATOR: Dominic Carter, host of NY1’s nightly political show Road to City Hall, is a fixture on New York’s political scene . An award-winning newsman, Carter has been with NY1 since its launch in 1992 and has moderated numerous debates and town halls in addition to interviewing prominent political players statewide, and many national and international leaders — earning the reputation as the best political reporter working in New York television .