All the commentary about Hevesi and whether he should step down or be removed ignores one salient fact: Alan Hevesi himself has crafted his role as Comptroller -- to go after school districts and other local governments for "theft" of taxpayer property and services. Over the past four years, Hevesi has, quite rightly, used his office for that purpose. The problem now is obvious. He has no moral authority to continue to pursue those inquests; therefore, he should take it upon himself to step down.

This has nothing to do with intent and scope of wrongdoing --it merely goes to the core of the job that Hevesi himself has developed.