DiNapoli To Lead FIAOQ Columbus Day Parade

Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York state comptroller, is grand marshal for the 2008 Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens (FIAOQ) 29th annual Queens Columbus Day Parade on Saturday, October 11.

The Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens (FIAOQ) will hold their 29th annual Queens Columbus Day parade Saturday, October 11, starting at the Kaufman Astoria Studios, 34-12 36th St., Astoria. Parade participants will assemble outside the studios at 11 a.m.; the parade will begin at noon

As in previous years, the parade will proceed along 34th Avenue from 36th Street to Steinway Street, left from Steinway Street onto 30th Avenue and right from 30th Avenue to 33rd Street to end at the reviewing stand at the Columbus Triangle at Astoria Boulevard and 31st Street. Parade chairman for the 2008 event is Jerry Iannece, Esq;

FIAOQ is located at 29-21 21st Ave., Astoria, Joseph DiPietro is president, Angie Markham, executive director.. For more information, call 718- 204-2444, FAX 718-204-9145 or e-mail fiao@juno.cm

Serving as grand marshal for the 2008 parade is Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York state comptroller. DiNapoli was sworn in as the 54th comptroller of the state of New York on Feb. 7, 2007. As Chief Fiscal Officer for the state, he is responsible for managing and protecting the state pension fund, auditing the spending practices of all state agencies and local governments, reviewing the New York state and city budgets, reviewing and approving all state contracts, and administering the state Oil Spill Fund.

Since taking office, DiNapoli has fought to restore public trust and confidence in the Office of the State Comptroller, implementing a number of reforms aimed at strengthening internal controls and restoring ethics and transparency in the office.

Prior to becoming comptroller, DiNapoli represented the 16th Assembly District in Northwestern Nassau County for 20 years. During his tenure in the Assembly, DiNapoli chaired the Local Governments Committee, the Governmental Operations Committee and the Environmental Conservation Committee.

In the Assembly, DiNapoli was a sponsor of legislation creating the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which helped Nassau County emerge from serious fiscal distress and restore fiscal responsibility. DiNapoli also helped draft and pass stronger school district accountability laws in response to the scandals that exposed the theft of millions of taxpayer dollars on Long Island.

As chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee for five years, DiNapoli earned a reputation as one of the state's leading voices on environmental issues, leading the fight to pass the nation's first phase-out of the ground water contaminant MTBE and to refinance the state's Superfund Program. DiNapoli also coauthored legislation creating New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program.

DiNapoli first gained recognition in 1972 when, at the age of 18, he was elected as a Trustee of the Mineola Board of Education, becoming the youngest person in New York state to hold public office.

Prior to his career in public service, DiNapoli was a manager in the telecommunications industry. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Long Island University-C.W. Post Campus and Hofstra University.

He holds a master's degree in human resources management from The New School University's Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions. A lifelong resident of Nassau County, DiNapoli graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in history from Hofstra University in Hempstead.