There has been considerable commentary by self-professed pundits about the Nassau County finances.
Their analysis is often self-servicing, always wrong and intentionally misleading.
Under my stewardship, the county finances have improved considerably by holding down spending and crusading against borrowing.
The Nassau County Annual Financial statements have been audited annual by nationally recognized public auditing firms such as Deloitte and RSM according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) without qualifications. The Controller’s Office has further received National Awards for Excellence in Financial Reporting each year, for the past seven years.
The county’s fund balance has increased from about $60 million in 2009 to a projected $275 million in 2016 and the long term debt has remained about the same as 2009 at $3.65 billion.
Recently, Standard & Poor’s upgraded the County’s Bond Rating to Aa+ Positive. I am proud of these accomplishments.
In his recent column in the Island Now, Mr. Marlin not only betrayed his lack of financial and accounting knowledge, but also decided to resort to personal attacks in an extreme and rude Trump-esque manner.
I categorically reject Mr. Marlin’s extreme conservative ideology who wants to return us to a 19th century smoke-stack America with few individual rights.
As many people, I have evolved in some previous conservative views and wholeheartedly support a woman’s right to choose and LGBT rights among other Democratic Progressive values.
I have always supported raising the minimum wage, collective bargaining and protecting the environment.
I do agree with Mr. Marlin on one point, that Nassau County needs a serious, credible and truthful county executive.
I feel that I am such a person, with 35 years of senior corporate leadership experience, founder of my own successful company, unquestionable integrity and an MBA in Finance.
I am the only independent candidate (Democrat) in the race for county executive who is not beholden to any special interest or to the political bosses who have been the root of corruption and waste.
I believe that I have served Nassau County honorably and with distinction for two terms as your Nassau County Comptroller.
I believe, that I have the inside knowledge and a genuine plan to end corruption, enact term limits, fix the property tax assessment system and lower property taxes for about 60 percent of residents, invest in improving public transportation, protect our water and build a new innovation economy with high-paying jobs.
George Maragos
Nassau County Comptroller
