Reshma Patel launches campaign for New York City Comptroller

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Former financial advisor to the New York City Comptroller’s office and public finance expert Reshma Patel officially launched her campaign for the office of NYC Comptroller with the release of her website and campaign video, on Feb. 15.

Patel, who is President of the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club and Vice-Chair of the Manhattan Community Board 6 Budget Committee, came to the United States as a baby with her parents

A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Patel was an advisor to the NYC Comptroller’s office for almost a decade, including during one of the City’s darkest moments, 9/11. Now, she says, she wants to help the city through the COVID crisis, which is one of the key issues of her campaign.

In her campaign materials, Patel says she witnessed firsthand that not all New Yorkers have the same opportunities and access to resources through her volunteer work. She was co-chair of the board at Chhaya Community Development Corporation, an organization founded to address the housing and economic needs for low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers.

She intends to change this reality NYC Comptroller, said the press release.

“My decisions as Comptroller will be grounded in my technical skills, but driven by my desire to create equity for all,” Patel is quoted saying in the press release, adding, “As the daughter of immigrants, I was taught to always share, to stretch a penny far and that when we rise, we should bring others up with us.”

The focus of Patel’s platform for the office of Comptroller is people-centered policies including repairing NYC for a more sustainable and equitable future.

The primaries for the Comptroller’s race are scheduled for June 22, and there are at least 10 candidates who are running and others could join the race by the primaries. New York being largely Democratic, whoever wins the Democratic primary is expected to win the election come Nov. 2.

A Comptroller is elected for a four-year term with a two year term limit.

Patel is pitted against some strong opponents, among them City Councilmen David Weprin and Brad Lander; and New York State Senator Kevin Parker.