By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – State Comptroller Alan Hevesi has agreed to resign immediately from office and plead guilty to a minor felony charge for using state employees as drivers for his wife. He appeared in an Albany courtroom Friday.
Hevesi will serve no jail time, but will pay a five thousand dollar fine and agreed not to file any appeal. He also agreed not to begin his new term on January 1st. Hevesi then apologized to his family, his staff and the people of New York.
With his resignation, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer will try to agree on a replacement. Under the constitution the Legislature will make the choice. The body is dominated by Democrats and that will give Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver the loudest voice. But Democrat Spitzer is expected to have considerable say and he wants someone who will help clean up Albany.