Andrew Cuomo
Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo’s tenure with the department of Housing and Urban Development is coming under fire, according to the Wall Street Journal. Federal auditors say that Cuomo, who served as HUD secretary for four years under the Clinton administration, executed a “poorly planned” personnel overhaul while with the agency, which led to fewer overall employees but more high-paid positions that rendered HUD less effective. Robert Paquin, a former HUD regional director in Boston, said that the move was detrimental to the department’s stability. “The concept was not unreasonable,” Paquin said of the overhaul, “but it was very poorly implemented and the consequences were pretty near disastrous.” Cuomo has often touted his experience with HUD in his campaign, citing it as an example of how he can reduce unnecessary government. [WSJ]