Liu, Now a State Senate Candidate, Satisfied with His Political Career

Ahead of his expected state Senate campaign announcement, former New York City comptroller John Liu said he enjoyed his brief five months out of office and was amused “watching and listening to all these rumors, the origins of which I don’t know about” regarding his political future.

Liu, who took in the second day of the New York State Democratic Convention Thursday, was asked whether he views his campaign against state Sen. Tony Avella, the newly minted Independent Democratic Conference member, as a road to redemption after his mayoral bid last year was derailed in part due to the New York City Campaign Finance Board's decision to deny him public matching funds.

“I’m already far beyond anything I imagined would happen in my lifetime,” Liu said, before rattling off his résumé. “I was elected to the City Council, served there for eight years. I was not going to have any part of serving there for yet another four years. I ran for city comptroller, the so-called pundits gave me little chance of winning that and we won that handily. I served as the chief financial officer of New York City for four years, I signed all the checks, and I had a chance to run for mayor of New York. What more can a guy ask for? I gave it my best shot, I didn’t make it, but now this is another opportunity to represent and fight for my neighbors, and I’m looking forward to that.”

Liu added that he very much enjoyed teaching his class at Baruch College during his political sabbatical, and that he plans on teaching again next semester.