Interview with Suffolk County comptroller about Long Island

Long Island Business News, Mar 4, 2005 by Ken Schachter

LIBN: Your name will always be connected to the audit of the LICVB. What's your take on what has happened there?

Sawicki: The lack of a performance by Michael Hollander is so unfortunate. One person literally brought down the reputation of the LICVB. Nassau and Suffolk, through their hotel taxes, pay for 90 percent of the LICVB's budget. But with legislative oversight, and with new leadership, we'll make sure that we won't have another person like Hollander, who got caught up in his own self importance.

LIBN: What did we learn from the LICVB audit?

Sawicki: That there needs to be more oversight. It's the same with education, where we've seen such a lack of oversight at school districts. One or two individuals are wreaking havoc over everyone else.

LIBN: State Comptroller Alan Hevesi has been aggressive in auditing schools. What's your office's role in the school budget scandals?

Sawicki: The state has authority to audit school districts. I can only legally enter an audit through the district attorney's office. For me to come in, District Attorney Tom Spota has to get a court order asking for my assistance in an investigation - and that's what he has done with the William Floyd investigation. Hevesi has stayed out of William Floyd at the request of Mr. Spota. As for what we've found, it's still premature. We're still auditing them. Capital project audits can take months, even a year, and we've only been at it for three months.

LIBN: You've been the comptroller for less than one term. You plan on running for re-election?

Sawicki: This is my dream come true. I love politics and government, and being an accountant, this is the greatest job. Yes, I'll run for re-election.

LIBN: You're not the only famous Sawicki in Suffolk County. Your son threw a no-hitter and two one-hitters for Southold High School last year. He's a senior this year, which means he's in the midst of making some major decisions. What's new there?

Sawicki: He visited about a half-dozen colleges and he has decided to accept a partial scholarship to Caldwell College in New Jersey. It's been a pressure-filled time for him. He spent time at All Pro Sports Academy in Bellport, where he pitched for 10 minutes with all these scouts watching him. It's a lot of pressure, we're really proud of him.