The piling on Alan Hevesi continued today, with Suffolk Republicans rallying with challenger J. Christopher Callaghan in front of the state office building in Hauppauge. Only GOP committee chairman Harry Withers spoke at the event but a news release from the Callaghan campaign includes some strong words from local officials:
* Assemblyman James Conte (R-Huntington Station): “It’s an outrage that the state’s top fiscal officer is involved in such a scandal. Government must be held accountable and to let this obvious abuse of taxpayer dollars to go without recourse is unimaginable. Mr. Hevesi should resign immediately.”
* Suffolk Comptroller Joseph Sawicki Jr. (who has been crossed endorsed Suffolk Democrats): “Just because you return the money you stole from the taxpayers of New York doesn’t mean that the crime didn’t happen. Hevesi must be held accountable and he should resign or face impeachment.”
* Suffolk County Clerk Judy Pascale: “It is clearly time for change in the comptroller’s race. Hevesi has a good record but no record would be good enough to overshadow the disturbing findings of the New York State Ethics Commission. Hevesi should step down immediately and accept responsibility for his actions."
James T. Madore