Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady, Saratoga) today called for the creation of an ad hoc committee, completely devoid of elected officials but made up of recognized experts in finance and accounting to vet the qualifications of candidates interested in the state Comptroller's job vacated last week by Alan Hevesi, and to present non-binding formal recommendations to the State Legislature by the third week in January.

Under Tedisco's plan, the Governor and all four legislative leaders would each get to appoint a financial/accounting expert to the five-member ad hoc committee. Once assembled, the committee would publicly, and with total transparency, vet and interview all interested candidates for the position.

"Right now, how this is shaping up is that the Speaker is going to be interviewing many of his own members for the job. Those interviews have probably already started and the public hearings that will be held in January will just be for show," said Tedisco. "Let's bring transparency and integrity to the selection process. I want to know what the experts have to say about the candidates, not just what partisans have to say."

Tedisco said at the culmination of the ad hoc committee's work they would formally recommend to the State Legislature the top three most qualified candidates based on experience, knowledge and intangibles.

"I don't care what party the next Comptroller is a member of. He or she can be affiliated with no party. What I want is the very best Comptroller. One that has an overabundance of energy, integrity, intelligence, experience and resolve - resolve to stand alone if need be for the best interests of the taxpayers," said Tedisco.