Democratic City Controller Alan Butkovitz – who has served one term as the elected fiscal watchdog for the city – is today batting off a challenge from Republican Al Schmidt.
Schmidt, 38, who worked at the Government Accountability Office in Washington, served at Republican City Committee from 2007 until earlier this year. He has accused Butkovitz of being too cozy with the city's Democratic establishment, saying that a minority party is better suited to hold city leaders accountable.
Butkovitz, 57, a former state legislator, says he has bucked the party leadership. He also says he's increased the office's audits of city services.
Here's a recent Daily News story about a debate between Butkoviz and Schmidt.