Although Tom DiNapoli has an important and powerful position as the New York State comptroller, he has not lost his easy, relaxed manner, his interest in the sometimes-Byzantine nature of local politics or his commitment to environmental matters.

As comptroller, he travels the state and last week he was making the rounds on Long Island. He gave Anton Community Newspapers an exclusive interview at the Seven Seas diner in Great Neck. He travels lightly without a trailing entourage of assistants and photographers, as some politicians are wont to do.

Mr. DiNapoli is quite aware that in these tight economic times and uncertainty, people want to know where and how their tax dollars are spent. With that goal in mind, his office initiated a new, user friendly feature on its website, dubbed "Open Book New York" which allows anyone access to state agencies' spending as well as the ability to peer into over 60,000 state contracts. It is real time information and adds substance to the demands for more transparency in government. So, if you would like to know who does business with the state....it's there. If you want a handle on an agency, how much is spent for salaries, travel and consultants, it's right there. (Go to www.openbooknewyork.com)

Mr. DiNapoli is especially proud that "Open Book" was accomplished by his staff, in-house and involved purchasing a software program and inputting the information that daily passes through the comptroller's offices. "It generated 7,000 hits in the first few days after it went up," he said. "What goes on in Albany has been shrouded in mystery in the past...this is just a first step toward throwing all the doors open," he added.

The next step will be to add budget information about school districts, counties, towns and villages to the website so that New Yorkers can track how money is spent locally.

The state comptroller's office, with a staff of 2,400 in state and regional offices, handles 82,000 financial transactions a day. Not only do they review state and New York City budgets, but also they review any state contract over $150,000.

Another vital function of the state comptroller's office is the guardianship of the Common Retirement Fund. Since Mr. DiNapoli shouldered his position in February of 2007, he has sought to make the business of investing for the fund, transparent as well. On the comptroller's website, www.ocs.state.ny.us, one may view monthly reports that disclose details about the investments and transactions, the hiring of fund managers and so forth.

He was asked about how the fund, now valued at $154.5 billion, is protected from potential "raids" from a financially pinched state government. Mr. DiNapoli believes that as an independently elected, sole trustee and manager for the fund, he is "beholden" to the people and not to any branch of state government. The fund paid out $6.38 billion in benefits in 2007. Its return rate for 2006-2007 was 12.58 percent. He said, "We have a very professional staff and also have financially savvy advisory boards to assist in decision-making."

Those who have followed Mr. DiNapoli's career will remember that he had a rock-solid track record as Assemblyman from the 16th District in promoting environmental protection in wide-ranging legislation. His work to protect the Pine Barrens, an environmentally sensitive area, and water resources on Long Island were hallmarks of his tenure and an enduring part of his legacy. True to form, his commitment now takes new venues for action.

Mr. DiNapoli said, "We want to invest in green technologies and also push for more jobs in the emerging green companies in New York State." The retirement fund is investing $500 million in national companies that develop clean technologies and focusing on investing some $880 million in such companies in New York State.

His office is also conducting audits into whether state agencies, public authorities and local governments are meeting environmental and energy requirements.

Mr. DiNapoli believes that leading by example is the way to go and so the comptroller's office building in Albany is in the process of making the necessary changes to qualify for a LEED-EB certification which is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. (LEED-EB stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in existing buildings.)

So, for example, incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs and 25 percent of the building's electricity has been purchased from renewable resources such as wind and hydroelectric. Future goals include but are not limited to maximizing recycling and working to reduce water consumption and wastewater flow.

Although the comptroller and his director of communications, Dennis Tompkins, had other appointments, we were able to take a few minutes to muse over "what-ifs." What-if Mr. DiNapoli had become lieutenant governor as had been speculated at the time? What-if, after the staggering turn of events, he were now governor?

With a full-faced grin, Mr. DiNapoli said, "I love the position I'm in now. There's so much that I can accomplish as comptroller...We're living in exciting times with lots of possibilities for positive changes."

On that note, he was asked what advice he would give to presidential candidate Barach Obama, if he were asked. Mr. DiNapoli paused and thought. "I would say that it's important to build bridges in the party...and that he should take note that Hilary's message resonated with many people...He should incorporate that message."