City

WINNERS Tom DiNapoli ? Conservative critics like to portray State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli as a puppet for big labor, a pawn of the unions that line his campaign coffers. This week, DiNapoli took two important steps to squash those rumors. First, he appointed former Rockefeller Institute deputy director Bob Ward as his deputy for budget policy. Ward is a known budget wonk whose fiscal analysis can run conservative, at least as far as the unions are concerned. Second, DiNapoli released a report that found that even as overtime costs by state workers was trending down, three state agencies were still raking in the lion's share. Unions like their overtime, but DiNapoli proves that he likes saving taxpayer dollars even more. Kirsten Gillibrand ? Solid poll numbers and a bulging campaign account leave Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sitting pretty while her three Republican rivals duke it out for recognition and cash. Gillibrand's solid approval rating among voters may be buoyed by the current lack of a visible campaign against her, which will likely change once primary voters chose her opponent in June, but she still has plenty of reasons to smile. And senator? That $23 we found for you? You're welcome. Michael Grimm ? Those New York Times exposé into the Staten Island pol's campaign funds? Yesterday's news. Grimm's campaign has only been heating up since then, as he's racked up endorsements from unions, apparently avoided a challenge from former Rep. Mike McMahon and still has a huge cash advantage over the upstart Democratic challenger,Mark Murphy. And this week he landed the Conservative Party nod, which will go nicely with the Independence and Republican party lines come election day. To find out who else made City and State's winners list for this week click here.