As New Yorkers prepare to head to the polls for early voting in the approaching June 24 Democratic primary, the race to replace Mayor Eric Adams is drawing significant attention. However, voters will also encounter other crucial contests on their ballots, particularly the competitive campaign to succeed city Comptroller Brad Lander.
The comptroller serves as the city’s independent fiscal watchdog, entrusted with auditing the financial operations of various municipal agencies, managing the city’s five pension funds, and overseeing the expansive $115 billion budget. This key position supervises a workforce of 800 employees, including economists, accountants, and financial analysts, and plays a vital role in holding the mayor’s administration accountable through fiscal audits and financial scrutiny.
Lander, who is pursuing a new role as mayor rather than seeking reelection as comptroller, has been a vocal participant in critical city debates, often clashing with Mayor Adams over budgetary constraints and the administration’s emergency contracting methods during the ongoing migrant crisis.
As the primary approaches, two leading candidates are emerging in the Democratic race for comptroller: Brooklyn City Council Member Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Public polling indicates Levine holds a slight edge over Brannan, although both candidates have garnered significant endorsements and a recent Emerson College poll revealed that nearly 30% of voters remain undecided.
In addition to Brannan and Levine, other contenders include Brooklyn State Senator Kevin Parker andIsmael Malave Perez, an employee within the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
Here’s an overview of each candidate vying for the position of comptroller in this year’s Democratic primary:
**Justin Brannan**
Having entered the political scene in 2018, Brannan was elected to represent southern Brooklyn, including his hometown of Bay Ridge and the relocated area of Coney Island following redistricting in 2022. Before venturing into politics, he pursued a career as a punk rock musician with his band ‘Indecision.’
During his tenure in the city council, Brannan made an unsuccessful attempt to become the council’s speaker in 2021 but was subsequently appointed chair of the Finance Committee. Here, he has been involved in contentious disagreements with Mayor Adams over severe budget cuts implemented within city agencies.
Brannan, noted for his forthright and aggressive style, cites his experience in budget negotiations and confrontations with the mayor as qualifications for providing rigorous oversight of the city’s finances while also defending against anticipated funding reductions from President Donald Trump. His campaign platform includes divesting the city’s pension funds from Tesla, curbing government corruption, and making universal free childcare a reality.
With a total of $3.4 million raised through private contributions and public matching funds, Brannan currently holds $2.6 million in his campaign account based on figures from the Campaign Finance Board (CFB).
**Mark Levine**
Elected as Manhattan borough president in 2021, Levine spent eight years on the City Council before taking on his current role. His council district included parts of the Upper West Side through West Harlem, during which he chaired the Committees on Parks and Health.
As borough president, Levine has prioritized projects aimed at affordable housing development across Manhattan, collaborated with the Hebrew Free Loan Society to provide low-interest loans for small businesses, and launched an ambitious initiative to plant one million trees citywide.
Before his political career, Levine was a bilingual math and science teacher in the South Bronx, and he also founded the Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union to better serve local businesses and families. Proficient in Spanish and Hebrew, he is exploring additional languages like Greek and French.
Highlighting a more subdued approach, Levine’s plans for the comptroller’s office include investing $2.5 billion from the city’s pension fund to build affordable housing, adding $2 billion to city reserves as a buffer against potential budget cuts from President Donald Trump, and reviewing the Department of Education’s reliance on outside consulting firms.
CFB records reveal Levine leads in fundraising efforts, having raised $4.8 million in total, and he presently has $3.4 million in his campaign coffers.
**Kevin Parker**
A seasoned state senator, Parker has represented central and southern Brooklyn neighborhoods since first being elected in 2002. Currently, he serves as the majority whip for the Democratic conference and chairs the Senate’s Energy and Telecommunications Committee.
Parker promotes himself as one of the most effective lawmakers in Albany, claiming to have passed over 70 pieces of legislation throughout his career. His political experience includes pivotal roles in both state and city government, where he held a variety of advisory positions.
However, compared to rivals Brannan and Levine, Parker’s campaign for comptroller has not gained equal traction or visibility. His stated proposals revolve around social impact investing, increasing affordable housing availability, a renewed focus on public health, and a ‘New Deal’ for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Nonetheless, these pledges remain vague and lack detailed execution plans.
According to Campaign Finance Board statistics, Parker’s fundraising has been limited, as he has raised approximately $73,458 and has not qualified for public matching funds, holding only $16,164 in his campaign account. His failure to meet the threshold disallowed him from participating in CFB-organized debates.
**Ismael Malave**
Malave is a long-standing city employee, currently serving as an administrative procurement analyst at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Since joining DCAS in 2014, he has gained experience in various capacities within city government, including previous employment as a senior investment analyst in the comptroller’s office.
His campaign emphasizes utilizing the comptroller’s responsibilities to eliminate ‘waste and inefficiency’ within municipal government, ensuring adherence to prevailing wage standards, and addressing concerns surrounding the city’s pension system. Despite his potential, Malave has faced challenges in standing out amidst the competition.
To this point in his campaign, Malave has raised $103,646 in private donations without qualifying for public matching funds. Currently, he has $20,488 in his campaign account and has not made it to the debate stage.
As the primary looms, voters in New York City will not only decide who will replace Mayor Adams but also who will take on the critical role of comptroller, a position integral to the financial stewardship and oversight of the city’s governing functions.
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