Most people don’t know what the comptroller does, and those who do disagree about how to pronounce it. Those in the know agree that it’s the second-most important elected office in the city, after the mayor. The comptroller is essentially the chief financial officer of the city, overseeing pension fund investments totaling about $280 billion.

Additionally, the comptroller audits agencies—be it the New York City Housing Authority, the New York Police Department, or any other—to ensure efficiency and accountability from the mayoral administration. The comptroller must also approve city contracts, another important check on irresponsible mayoral decision-making.

Current comptroller Brad Lander ran for mayor, leaving the office up for grabs. The Democratic nominee is Mark Levine, the current Manhattan borough president, who won a tough primary against Council Member Justin Brannan.

Levine's résumé is impressive. A former council member, he previously worked as a public school teacher and started a credit union for underbanked New Yorkers. He has been exemplary as BP. In the role, Levine’s focus has been on housing affordability. He championed the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan to legalize a little more housing in every neighborhood and proactively identified locations for new homes across the borough. This focus on housing is motivating his comptroller run; his “Affordability Fund” plan will leverage $2.5 billion in support of 75,000 affordable homes. 

Republican nominee Peter Kefalas is a newcomer to politics without relevant experience for the office. He is a founder of QNS Voice, a MAGA-aligned media outlet, and points to false narratives about “defunding the police” and “illegal criminal aliens” as behind New York’s challenges. Without a proper diagnosis of the serious challenges facing the city, Kefalas does not offer a compelling reason to bet on him.

Mark Levine is a clear choice—and will be a valuable addition to citywide leadership.