- Andrew Eristoff
Andrew Sidamon Eristoff is a Republican Party politician from
New York City who served as the Commissioner of Tax and Finance under New York State GovernorGeorge Pataki fromSeptember 16 ,2003 until his resignation onNovember 3 ,2006 . [http://www.tax.state.ny.us/press/2006/commissionereristoffresigns.htm] He applied to replace formerNew York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi , meeting with a panel of former comptrollers and many state legislators.Education
Eristoff is a descendant of the noble Georgian family of
Sidamon-Eristavi fromTelavi . His side of the family immigrated to the United States in 1921. [ [http://georgia.usembassy.gov/events/2006/event20061009Eristoff.htm New York State Commissioner of Taxation Mr. Andrew Eristoff Discusses Local Government in Telavi and Tbilisi] . Embassy of the United States to Georgia. October 2006.] Eristoff graduated fromPrinceton University in 1985. He received ajuris doctor degree fromGeorgetown University Law Center in 1989. In 2000, Eristoff earned an advanced professional certificate inInformation Technology fromNew York University . Known socially as Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, he is the son of Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff and Anne Phipps Sidamon-Eristoff. His great-grandfather,Henry Phipps , was a partner of Andrew Carnegie and the president of the United States Steel Corporation.Political career
Eristoff served as a member
New York City Council from 1993 until 1999. In 1999, Eristoff became New York City Commissioner of Finance under MayorRudy Giuliani . He served in that role until 2002 when new Mayor Michael Bloomberg removed him from that position, after which he challenged Democratic State SenatorLiz Krueger . He lost to Krueger by 59% to 41% in the most expensive state legislative race in history ($3 million spent by Eristoff), and in February 2003, Eristoff was appointed as the executive deputy commissioner of the state Department of Taxation and Finance by former Governor George Pataki.In September 2003, Eristoff was elevated to the role of Commissioner of Tax and Finance by Pataki. As Commissioner, Eristoff upgraded the department helping to push for the Project Portfolio Management initiatives and Performance-Based Budgeting programs.
In January 2007, Eristoff applied to the
New York State Legislature to be among the candidates screened to replace formerNew York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi. He announced that if selected, he would not run for a full term in 2010, nor for any other elected office. [http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=3344] OnJanuary 23 ,2007 , Eristoff was interviewed by a panel of former State Comptrollers,Carl McCall andEdward Regan and former New York City ComptrollerHarrison J. Goldin , along with a the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. In his presentation to the panel, he discussed many possible reforms to the comptroller's office, many of which he said would be unpopular, but which had been previously introduced by other legislators. Citing that he would not run for reelection or for any other elective office, Eristoff said he could make unpopular decisions that, in the end, he felt would benefit New York. [http://blogs.nydailynews.com/dailypolitics/archives/2007/01/mr_unpopularity.php] He was not recommended by the search committee as a finalist for consideration by the full State Legislature based on qualifications and presentation during committee hearings.Electoral history
2002 race for state senate
**Andrew S. Eristoff (R), 40.7%
** [http://www.lizkrueger.com/ Liz Krueger] (D), 59.3%References
External links
* [http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Andrew%20S.%20Eristoff%20Comptroller%20Statement%201-22-07.doc Eristoff's Statements before Comptroller Selection Panel]
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