What to know about Mark Levine, NYC’s new comptroller
NYC Comptroller Mark Levine sworn in: Full speech
New York City Comptroller Mark Levine is sworn in by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
NEW YORK - New York City has a new comptroller, with Mark D. Levine sworn into office on Thursday.
What we know:
Levine, 56, becomes the 52nd comptroller in the city’s history, succeeding former Comptroller Brad Lander.
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Levine will take on the role of chief fiscal watchdog responsible for auditing city agencies, overseeing public pension funds, and monitoring the city’s financial health.
Levine was inaugurated on the steps of City Hall, where he outlined priorities centered on fiscal accountability, public trust, and protecting the retirement security of city workers.
What will Levine do?
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine speaks in Bowling Green Park in Manhattan, New York, on Aug. 23, 2022. Levine is the front-runner for the office of New York City comptroller. (Shawn Inglima/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty I
In his inaugural address, Levine said the comptroller’s office must ensure the city’s budget reflects public values and that government agencies remain accountable.
He also issued a letter to New Yorkers detailing his vision for the office, which includes safeguarding pension assets, strengthening oversight of city agencies, and ensuring nonprofits contracted by the city are paid on time.
Levine said the role requires independence, particularly when reviewing the actions of the mayoral administration and other city agencies.
Who is Mark Levine?
Levine was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Columbia, Maryland and speaks fluent Spanish and Hebrew. He has two children and is married to Ivelisse Suarez.
Levine brings nearly 25 years of experience in public service and community development to the position.
He began his career as a bilingual math and science teacher in the South Bronx before founding Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union in the 1990s.
He later served eight years on the New York City Council, where he chaired the Committees on Parks and Health and led the Council’s Jewish Caucus.
In 2022, Levine was elected Manhattan borough president, where he focused on housing affordability and economic stability. He identified sites for tens of thousands of potential housing units and supported policies aimed at expanding affordable housing while strengthening tenant protections.
Primaries
The comptroller race drew less uncertainty than the Democratic mayoral primary.
Levine, then Manhattan borough president, was widely viewed as the front-runner in a contest against Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan.
Preliminary results from the Board of Elections showed Levine winning the Democratic nomination with 48% of the vote to Brannan’s 34%.
Levine's views on Mamdani, Trump
Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, center, shakes hands with Mark Levine, New York City comptroller, left, during an inauguration ceremony at City Hall in New York, US, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. A 34-year-old democratic socialist born in Uganda, Mam
During the primary campaign, Levine described the comptroller as the city’s chief accountant and an independent fiscal watchdog. He criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and said he wanted to make New York City more welcoming for small businesses.
Levine acknowledged he could serve as a counterweight to a more progressive mayor but said he would support the Democratic nominee in the general election. "I am a Democrat who supports Democrats in general elections," Levine told PIX11, adding that the comptroller should be able to "push back" against the mayor "when necessary."
What does the NYC comptroller do?
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2025/03/08: Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine speaks at a rally celebrating cultural vitality of The Center at West Park at West Park Presbyterian Church. Church building is designated as a landmark by the city and no
The New York City comptroller oversees the city’s finances — managing its $100 billion-plus budget, auditing city agencies, reviewing contracts, and monitoring the city’s pension funds. The Comptroller also acts as a financial watchdog, ensuring that taxpayer money is spent efficiently and transparently.
The Source: This report is based on information from city government, PIX11 and City and State New York.