DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN — With primary elections taking place in June, most are focused on the mayoral candidates, but on March 18, comptroller candidates Mark Levine and Justin Brannan debated urgent issues related to the position. 

The debate, co-hosted by The New York Law School and the Citizen Budget Commission, was moderated by CBC President Andrew Rein and Ben Max, executive editor and program director for the Center for New York City and State Law. Max and Reim posed a series of questions to Levine and Brannan regarding city budget, government transparency, affordable housing, contracts and pension funds. 

In the debate, Levine and Brannan agreed that the city budget should be used more responsibly, government should be more up front with constituents and affordability is a major issue in the city right now. 

Reim emphasized the importance of the role of comptroller in government. “It is critical that New York’s comptroller be independent and lift the veil so that you and the public can have unbiased information about your money, your government and your city,” he said.

There are four candidates for comptroller in addition to Levine and Brannan — Ismael Malave, Peter Kefalas, Danniel Maio and state Sen. Kevin Parker. The official ballot will be released by the City Board of Elections this spring. Primary elections will be held June 24, and the general election will be held Nov. 4.