Five months after giving up the race for mayor of New York City to focus on his mental health, Corey Johnson, the city council chairman, said on Tuesday that he was considering a late entry into the city’s controllership dispute.
Johnson said he was approached by several elected officials and city council members who said he should consider running for city tax inspector and that his desire to contribute to the city’s recovery sparked his interest. Scott M. Stringer, the city’s current controller, is one of the main candidates in the mayoral race, leaving the position open.
“I wouldn’t be considering it if I didn’t feel good about where I am personally and the work I’ve done in the past six months in focusing on myself and my own well-being,” Johnson said in an interview.
Johnson was one of the top Democratic candidates in the mayoral race, but he announced in September that he was giving up because he said that dealing with his depression, handling his post as City Council leader and running for office would be very difficult.
Johnson said he would make a final decision on the controller race in the next two weeks, before the petition starts.
If you enter the race, you can use the money you raised in your campaign for mayor. He would probably also qualify to receive equivalent funds from the city, pending an audit. Johnson currently has about $ 580,000 in his campaign account, according to the city’s campaign finance council.
New York City is facing a deep financial crisis as a result of the pandemic, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city may have to make major budget cuts if it does not receive significant federal funding. The mayor recently announced that property tax revenue could decline by $ 2.5 billion next year, driven by the decline in the value of empty office buildings and hotels.
Johnson, who is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in the City Council because of mandate limit laws, said he began considering the idea of running for controllership several weeks ago. Stringer is also prevented by city law from running for a third consecutive term as controller.
“I haven’t made a final decision yet – I need to continue talking to my family, but I’m thinking about it because I love this city,” said Johnson. “I think the next controller needs to be someone who ensures that our recovery is one where we make sure that all the money we’re spending is spent properly, and I feel like I did that as a speaker.”
The number of candidates for controllership has increased in recent weeks. Just a month ago, it was essentially a four-person competition between Brad Lander, a Brooklyn councilor; Brian A. Benjamin, state senator; David Weprin, a state deputy; and Kevin Parker, a state senator.
So Zach Iscol, a military veteran, dropped out of the mayoral race and joined the race for controllership last month. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC anchor, also participated in the race.