By Adam Kramer
Queens native son Alan Hevesi revived his political career with a landslide victory in the Democratic primary for state comptroller over political newcomer William Mulrow.
According to unofficial results reported by NY1, Hevesi garnered 62.66 percent of the vote to beat Westchester resident Mulrow, who only captured 37.34 percent of the vote.
Hevesi, the former two-term city comptroller and former state assemblyman, will face off against upstate Republican John Faso, a former minority leader in the state Assembly, Nov. 5 in hopes of succeeding Comptroller H. Carl McCall.
McCall, who won the Democratic primary for governor hands down after rival Andrew Cuomo withdrew in a surprise move last week, will take on GOP Gov. George Pataki and the Independent Party candidate B. Thomas Golisano.
Pataki beat Golisano in the Republican primary but lost to him in the Independent Party primary.
Hevesi’s political career was on the ropes after his stunning defeat in last year’s New York mayoral race. Hevesi was the early favorite and many political insiders said the mayorality was his to lose, which he did.
Hevesi finished fourth in the 2001 Democratic primary behind former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, former Public Advocate Mark Green and former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone.
Mulrow, a financial adviser who had never before entered the political arena, spent the past year traversing the state in hopes of drumming up enough support for his campaign. He was able to get the backing of a number of labor unions and some county Democratic chairmen.
Hevesi and Mulrow could also do battle again in November as Mulrow defeated Hevesi on the Working Family Party’s line, which will place him on the ballot in November. Mulrow captured 55.82 percent of the vote as compared to Hevesi’s 44.18 percent in the Working Family primary, according to NY1.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
