State comptroller candidate Joseph Hernandez, right, has been outspoken regarding New York City and Buffalo fiscal woes.

Underdog candidate for New York state comptroller Joseph Hernandez was energized this week by a Siena Poll that was far from flattering to longtime incumbent Thomas DiNapoli. Though the Democrat has held the position since 2007, 65% of the voters surveyed indicated they had never heard of him.

According to the recent numbers, DiNapoli holds a 20% vs.15% favorability rating, while just 30% say they are prepared to re-elect him, compared to 29% who prefer “someone else,” with 41% undecided. “For someone who has held office for nearly 20 years, these numbers are staggering,” said Hernandez, the endorsed Republican candidate for the office. “When nearly two-thirds of voters don’t even know who the state’s chief fiscal watchdog is, it’s not just a name recognition problem, it’s a failure of leadership.”

If there’s one thing you can say about Hernandez since he announced his campaign in November is he has been aggressive — much more than the previous candidate who opposed DiNapoli in 2022 and received only 43% of the vote. Hernandez is consistently offering criticisms regarding significant and glaring financial issues throughout the state.

On his website, Hernandez describes himself as an American entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and visionary leader in biotechnology, health care, and advanced technology. A Cuban refugee and son of a political prisoner, he fled the grip of communist rule at the age of 7, arriving in the United States with hope and a determination to build a better life that began with schooling in Florida public schools and later the University of Florida.

He also brings to the plate a solid private-sector background.

During his career, he has founded, invested in, and led more than a dozen biotechnology, health care, and technology companies. He serves as the founder and senior managing partner of Blue Water Venture Partners LLC, where he continues to invest in innovations that improve public health, accelerate scientific discovery, and address critical human diseases.

Hernandez also appears to be ready to give leaders across the state a dose of reality when it comes to failing governments. In recent months, he’s been closely watching and criticizing developments in New York City where Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist-driven agenda appears to be leading the metropolis to greater financial troubles.

Closer to home, he also is tuned in to the disarray of the state’s Queen City. Hernandez last month criticized Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan’s proposed 25% property tax increase, warning it would force more residents out of a city already struggling with decades of population loss and

economic decline.

That proposal comes as Buffalo considers overriding New York’s property tax cap to close a $109 million budget deficit, prompting strong concern from residents during recent public hearings who say they simply cannot afford another financial burden. “Buffalo families are telling their leaders loud and clear at a public hearing held on Monday that they can’t afford this,” Hernandez said. “People are already stretched thin, and now they’re being asked to pay 25% more just to stay in their homes. That’s not leadership, that’s failing New Yorkers.”

DiNapoli has not been as vocal about these recent situations facing numerous municipalities across the state. That low-key approach could be tied to the leadership being Democratic — and the incumbent needing that support in November.

But to be fair, the comptroller has thoroughly been involved in the tragic financial reckoning that is the city of Dunkirk since March 2024 when the crisis became public. Within the past four months, his office announced charges against former Treasurer Mark Woods in the theft of at least $120,000.

“As Dunkirk’s severe financial troubles escalated, Mr. Woods allegedly betrayed his community and public duty by allegedly scheming to steal over $120,000 in public money he was sworn to safeguard,” DiNapoli said in January. “Any abuse of office by a public official is intolerable, but to steal public funds while resident taxes rise to cover financial shortfalls is particularly appalling.”

He also has been visible to Chautauqua County, most recently visiting here in 2023 as keynote speaker at a CHQ Chamber Annual Meeting and later gathering with The Post-Journal and OBSERVER editorial boards. Overall, our newspapers have been complimentary of his efforts — and audits. One of his most recent this week on Western New York Off-Track Betting revealed a lack of oversight by the board and leadership regarding expenses and dwindling revenues.

A final feather in DiNapoli’s cap is the oversight of the New York State Local Retirement System while serving as trustee of the Common Retirement Fund, which was valued at $273.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. It is consistently recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded plans in the nation.

As municipalities and authorities continue to struggle financially, more will be expected of this state position in the future. Both candidates have a solid record of maintaining accountability — something not always found in government spreadsheets.

John D’Agostino is editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.