"This is a wonderful place to be, the state comptroller's office," said New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, as he sat down to a leisurely breakfast interview with the Great Neck Record. The popular, ever-friendly longtime Great Neck resident who served the 16th Assembly District for so many years, told the Record that his new position is "very different from representing the state in the Assembly." Now he has 2600 people working for him in the comptroller's office.

Mr. DiNapoli explained that the comptroller's office "does a lot ... we're very diverse." The state comptroller is the state's chief fiscal officer, his office is the basis for business operations. The comptroller's office works on contracts (40,000 a year), processes the payroll for state workers, offers commentary on the state budget and general fiscal practices, among a whole host of other responsibilities.

And when the state budget comes up in April, Mr. DiNapoli's office will again comment, regarding spending and the impact of the budget on the state. His office also comments on financial policies and efficiency within state agencies.

The comptroller's office also does audits for the state, with over 600 per year carried out. Audits are done for villages, towns, counties and special districts. Mr. DiNapoli noted that, due to the Roslyn School District scandal several years ago, there has been an increase in audits of school districts. During his tenure in the state assembly, Tom DiNapoli had sponsored legislation reinstating the state's role in school district audits by the year 2010. These school audits include public schools, BOCES, and charter schools, which are funded by taxpayers' money.

Additionally, Mr. DiNapoli's office manages the state retirement system, with over one million members. Actually, he said, the largest staff numbers go to audits and the retirement system.

It is a major project for the state comptroller's office to manage the money being invested in the pension fund. It's a tough job, especially in today's economy and "today's market." Mr. DiNapoli said that "we try not to burden those paying property taxes." He added that the pension fund is "fully funded" and that "we are conservative with the investments ... we watch closely."

And "watching closely" is important, as Mr. DiNapoli explained that he is working hard on reforms --- working on "integrity and transparency." Priorities, he said, are directly related to ethics. "We have a new inspector general and an ethics council," he said.

Along those lines, Mr. DiNapoli added that with his "time and experience" he has "done a lot to restore confidence" in the office of the state comptroller.

Mr. DiNapoli spends his days, both upstate and in New York City (as well as traveling around the state) in meetings with staff and in working to stay on track with his goals.

When asked, he said that the "best" part of his job is heading an agency that has areas of authority, "where I can actually make a difference." Now, he is able to see "tangible results." And he emphasized that "the level of accountability is more direct." He said that he has been trained for this type of work, and with this position he is now able to "drill down on issues with more depth, with more attention."

Having been a state assembly member for so many years, Mr. DiNapoli says that he knows so many state issues. "And now I'm removed from the partisan political issues and the fray and it suits my style."

As ever Tom DiNapoli's style is direct and sincere. One of the friendliest, most responsive "neighbors" around, he ended the interview asking the Record to "please remember to tell Great Neck how much I appreciate their support ... it really made a difference ... helped to keep my confidence level up ...."

Tom DiNapoli promised to "work hard to continue to get the respect my home community has ... to make them proud of the job we're doing."