Ousted politician gets deputy comptroller job

ALBANY - The former head of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation has landed a new state government job with the help of a longtime colleague.

Former Democratic Assemb. Pete Grannis, who was fired from Gov. David A. Paterson's administration in October, has been named to a $165,000-a-year job as first deputy comptroller in the office of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, another ex-assemblyman and fellow Democrat.

DiNapoli won election in November after being appointed by the legislature to replace the disgraced Alan Hevesi in 2007.

Grannis was ousted from the DEC after an agency memo critical of Paterson budget cuts was leaked.

DiNapoli announced the appointment Friday.

To open the spot, First Deputy Mary Louise Mallick will move to a $162,000 job as senior policy adviser. Both moves take effect Jan. 20. - AP