State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was nominated to run for a second full term.
DiNapoli, who compared himself to the “happy warrior” of former Governor Al Smith, has had his differences with fellow Democrat Governor Cuomo, and says he does not know if Cuomo will endorse him.
The Comptroller’s race has the option of a pilot program for public campaign financing. DiNapoli has said the program is flawed, and he won’t be participating. His opponent, GOP nominee Bob Antonacci is planning on opting in. Under the plan, the money comes from the unclaimed deposits fund that the Comptroller controls, and DiNapoli says he has some concerns with that.
Di Napoli will be in the awkward position of actually certifying the money to run his opponents campaign, but he says he won’t “play games” with handing out the money.