NEW JERSEY—Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 23 announced he has nominated Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC) Executive Director Kevin D. Walsh Esq. to be the state’s fourth comptroller. Walsh will start as acting comptroller on Jan. 27.
The nomination is subject to advice and consent by the Senate and is for a six-year term.
The Office of the State Comptroller, an independent state agency, serves the public by conducting audits and investigations of government agencies throughout New Jersey.
The office also reviews government contracts and works to detect and prevent Medicaid Fraud. The office strives to enhance the efficiency and transparency of government and to ensure public funds are spent effectively and efficiently.
Murphy said, “As a dedicated public interest attorney, Kevin’s independent and thorough judgement make him an ideal fit to stand up for New Jersey taxpayers as our next State Comptroller.” He added, “Kevin has a proven track record of fighting for civil rights and government accountability, regardless of politics or pressure. I will ask Kevin to continue to uphold the Comptroller Office’s reputation of demonstrating independence of thought and independence of action on behalf of all New Jerseyans.”
Walsh has spent the past two decades as a civil rights attorney and as the executive director of the Fair Share Housing Center, where he has led the enforcement of the Mount Laurel doctrine to promote racial and economic integration in New Jersey through the expansion of affordable housing.
Walsh previously served as Counsel to New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, where he was a key member of the team that led the grassroots effort to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey.
In 2007, Walsh was selected by the New Jersey Supreme Court to sit on its Committee on Character to review applicants to the New Jersey Bar.
He also served as a member of the state Supreme Court’s Practice Committee, which reviews and recommends potential changes to New Jersey’s Rules of Court.
FSHC issued a statement on congratulating Walsh on his nomination.
“In the 20 years he has spent at FSHC, Kevin’s work has strengthened New Jersey’s fair housing laws and led to thousands of families today living in communities that otherwise would have excluded them. We look forward to Kevin building on his record of making New Jersey a better and fairer place to live in this new role,” the group said.
Within moments of the announcements reaching us via email, a critical statement from state Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-39) followed.
“While successful at fighting to litter the state with high density housing, [Walsh’s] bullying and name calling against mayors, lawmakers, local officials and even me cause grave concern regarding his ability to be impartial, fair and just in this role,” Schepisi wrote.
She alleged, “When I invited him to participate on an important panel addressing how to better provide affordable housing in the state, rather than speaking to me about the invitation or even trying to understand my position on affordable housing, he sent an inflammatory response falsely labeling me a racist and xenophobe.”
Schepisi wrote, “The comptroller has the very crucial task of rooting out fraud, misrepresentation and bad governance by truly bad actors in the state. Unfortunately, he has repeatedly attacked, with fraudulent charges and misrepresentation of motives, anyone who disagreed with him on policy issues regarding overdevelopment in the most densely populated state in the nation.”
FSHC said “In the five years since Kevin became executive director, we have reached over 300 agreements with municipalities to provide their fair share of homes affordable to lower-income families, people with disabilities, and seniors.”
It added, “We will work to ensure these agreements continue to result in homes being built and accessible to lower-income families and to ensure that the 30 municipalities with which we have not reached agreements come into compliance.”
FSHC promised it would “redouble our fight for a more just future for New Jersey, recognizing that housing segregation impacts everything from jobs to education.”
