QUEENS,NY(TIP): Democratic Queens Assembly Member David Weprin, on Feb 9, released his official campaign video, outlining why he’s running to be NYC’s next Comptroller. “It’s time New York renewed its commitment to hard working people like my mom, who’ve made this the greatest city in the world,” David Weprin says in the video. “That’s why I’m running for New York City Comptroller. I’ve always fought for everyday New Yorkers, stood shoulder to shoulder during tough times, found real solutions and seen us, as New Yorkers, emerge stronger.” The video features Weprin’s mother, Sylvia, a Cuban-Jewish immigrant who came to New York City for a better life. He notes her work as a public-school teacher and how he wants to help her, and other seniors like her, protect their pensions. Weprin goes on to say he’s running to stand up for the needs of working and middle-class families, single parents, and immigrants like his mother. She’s also featured in a Spanish language version of the video.

If elected, Weprin has committed to opening a Comptroller Office in each of the five boroughs. The goal is to provide individuals and small businesses in financially underserved communities easier access to economic opportunities, financial institutions, and small business relief assistance.

Weprin is the only candidate running for Comptroller with the necessary municipal financial experience, having balanced the City’s budget as Chair of the City Council’s Finance Committee for eight consecutive years. He guided the City’s finances through the post-9/11 recession and the 2008 recession. He was also the chair of the Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities. Previously in his public service career, Weprin served as the Deputy Superintendent of Banks and Secretary of the Banking Board for New York State, where he was a watchdog of nearly $2 trillion, regulating more than 3,000 financial institutions and financial service firms in New York State, including international banking institutions, mortgage brokers, and mortgage bankers.

Weprin is currently Chair of the New York State Assembly’s Committee on Correction where he has championed critical legislation reforming our criminal justice system. He has authored groundbreaking legislation including the Adoptee Bill of Rights and the Religious Garb Bill and has made standing up for middle class New Yorkers a central theme of his campaign for Comptroller.

In a testament to Weprin’s record and the work he’ll do as Comptroller, he has earned the most diverse set of endorsements of any candidate in this race, including: U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (Queens), NYS Assembly Members Michael Benedetto (Bronx), Dick Gottfried (Manhattan), Rebecca Seawright (Manhattan), Vivian Cook (Queens), Jenifer Rajkumar (Queens), Jeff Aubrey (Queens), Cathy Nolan (Queens), Maritza Davilla (Brooklyn), Bill Colton (Brooklyn), Stacey Pheffer Amato (Queens), NYC Council Members Karen Koslowitz (Queens), Barry Grodenchik (Queens), Peter Koo (Queens), the NYS Court Officers Association, William Kregler, President of the NYC Fire Marshals Benevolent Association, former Congress Member Steve Israel, the former Chair of the DCCC who represented part of Queens in the House of Representatives, former NYS Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch, former New York Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell, and Manhattan’s East River Democratic Club.

In addition to his growing list of supporters, Weprin outraised all his opponents in the latest filing period, bringing his total amount raised, with expected matching, to more than $2 million.

Weprin is a graduate of Jamaica High School, SUNY at Albany, and holds a law degree from Hofstra University. A father of five children, and grandfather of six, David and his wife, Ronni, live in Holliswood, Queens.