By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – In any other year, a primary election for City Comptroller would have drawn nothing more than a few yawns from the electorate. But as Buffalo tries to dig itself out of its financial mess, more eyes are now on the comptroller's office. And in Tuesday's primary, four candidates are seeking the Democratic party's nod to run in November's election.
In the current climate, you almost wonder why anyone would even want to run for city comptroller. The city faces massive deficits. The property tax base continues to decline. And there is much controversy over where the city will find new sources of revenue. With Buffalo now under the control of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, the next city comptroller will face challenges unlike any other.
But even with all that, four candidates are running. There is no true incumbent. Anthony Nanula resigned as city comptroller earlier this year for a post in the state comptroller's office. Since then, deputy Andrew SanFilippo has served in an acting role. And he's one of the four running in the primary.
"I am the independent, qualified financial professional who has a 30-year record of experience in the comptroller's office," SanFilippo asserted. "I've worked with four different comptrollers. I've always been the individual who has been implementing the policy of the elected comptroller."
SanFilippo is a lifelong Democrat. But he also has the support of the Republican party and several minor parties, insuring his name will appear on the November ballot. The Democratic party's endorsement went to Barbra Kavanaugh, a former Buffalo Council Member at Large who has spent the past several years administering the State Attorney General's office in Buffalo. She said it's that experience that makes her well-qualified for comptroller.
"It's an office of professional accountants and auditors. There needs to be someone who has managerial experience to keep them on mission and give them the opportunity to excel professionally," Kavanaugh said.
Kavanaugh has raised the most money -- about $60,000 -- for her campaign. But that and the Democratic party support does not make her a shoe-in. Also running is Common Council President James Pitts, the only African-American candidate in a city with a heavy minority population.
"Ethnic politics is as American as apple pie. I think the issue, though, is you want to look at the most qualified person at this particular time," Pitts said. "I think it's time to bring someone in who has the education, who has the experience and understands city government.
"You're looking for someone who understands what the community needs and what the city needs to get out of this financial crisis."
Pitts admits not everyone likes his bombastic style. But he doesn't apologize for it, noting that he alone was raising red flags about the Adelphia Communications deal to build a waterfront office complex months before the company went bankrupt. And some political observers say the presence of the fourth candidate in the race, former Delaware District Council Member Al Coppola, could take enough votes away from Kavanaugh to give Pitts a winning edge. Coppola says he finds such talk offensive.
"I've worked all summer. My family has been out there working," Coppola said. "We're trying to do the right thing for the city of Buffalo. And then to say I'm a spoiler is absolutely incredible."
Kavanaugh says she herself has not called Coppola a spoiler. But she does question his motives for entering the race.
"I don't know if Al is in this race because he wants to be comptroller," Kavanaugh said. "I've seen him at debates. But there has been no campaign in terms of raising money and getting mailings out."
And Coppola admits as much. But he says that doesn't mean he hasn't been campaigning. Besides going door-to-door, Coppola says he's been depending on dozens of volunteers who have been using their own phones to make calls on his behalf. And despite a lack of money, he says he'll put up his record against Kavanaugh's any day.
"I was strongly opposed to the garbage tax, which hurts the senior citizens of the City of Buffalo," Coppola said. "Yet, Barbra Kavanaugh pushed and voted for it."
Andrew SanFilippo says he's also been going door-to-door, when he finds the time. He says trying to campaign while running the city comptroller's office has been a challenge. And SanFilippo says you'll find him working, rather than campaigning, Tuesday.
"On primary day I'll be sitting behind my desk, working on settling three separate note and bond financings on behalf of the city of Buffalo," SanFilippo said.
Tuesday's primary could mark the end of a remarkable political career for James Pitts. He's served on the Common Council since 1978, the last several years as its president. But voters eliminated the Council president and at-Large seats in a referendum last year. Pitts said that, combined with the arrival of the financial control board, elevates the importance of the of the office he's seeking.
"The city comptroller is the remaining city-wide elected official besides the mayor," Pitts said. "That person has a direct responsibility, not only for overseeing the finances and working with the control board, but making sure the city's and the taxpayers' money is accounted for and spent wisely."
All four candidates running in the race talk about inadequate staffing levels in the city comptroller's office and proposals by the county to take it over. They all say Buffalo needs an independent comptroller, though the door should never be closed to cooperation with the county.