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Inauguration Remarks (Prepared)
January 9, 2011
Cooper Union Great Hall
New York, New York
Thank you, my friends, for sharing this day with me. You’ll recall I started my tenure as New York State’s 54th Comptroller in 2007 with an untraditional beginning. Instead of the customary swearing in, I was given a swearing-AT.
Looking out at all of you and enjoying this ceremony, I can state with certainty that I much prefer this more traditional approach.
We are here at the historic Cooper Union. This remarkable college was the inspiration of a great New Yorker and part time Long Islander, Peter Cooper.Dear Friends,
Public service is what my life has been about. To be the people's choice for Comptroller is truly the greatest honor.
Our victory last night shows it's not about the polls, nor the pundits, nor the papers. It's about the people. And you, my friends, colleagues and family, have been there with me through the good times and the bad and I will forever be indebted to you for your support.
We still have enormous challenges ahead of us and an immediate challenge in dealing with our current budget. I will continue to exercise leadership in resolving these problems.
Last night, I congratulated our new Governor, Andrew Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy as well as our new Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, on their victories. Together, I know that this is the best team possible to move our state forward.
I owe thanks to everyone who has believed in me and in my candidacy over these past few months and throughout my career: my family, my friends, my colleagues in government, the Democratic Party, the Working Families Party and especially my brothers and sisters in the labor movement. Thank you all for your support, generosity and hospitality over the course of the campaign.
Today, we begin anew. I am back to work doing the people's business, thanks to all of you.
Your friend,
Tom DiNapoli
Comptroller DiNapoli has drawn support from newspaper editorial boards to President Bill Clinton to nearly, if not every, organization representing working men and women in New York State. His candidacy is based upon the strength and resilience of New York's middle class and he has proven, time and again, that he is a public servant with ethics, integrity and fortitude.
In boxing, there’s an unwritten rule that in order to win a title fight with the current champion, you have to knock him out. It’s a concept that translates well into electoral politics, we think. If the incumbent has done a good job and displayed hard work, dedication and consistency, there’s no reason to hand the job to a challenger — even a promising one; even in a “throw-the-bums-out” climate.
That’s how we feel about state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. After being appointed from the Assembly to fill the post left vacant by the disgraced Alan Hevesi, the Democrat has done a superb job and is now widely respected as a firm and impartial steward of the state’s finances.
Sitting on the board of directors of FiberMark during this terrible time was Harry Wilson, representing his hedge fund, Silver Point Capital. Wilson made millions of dollars each of the years that he served in that role. Now the workers at FiberMark have their chance to tell the people of New York what it meant to be at the blunt end of Mr. Wilson’s quest for profits over people.
