Philip LaTessa

Philip Joseph LaTessa (born 1961) is an American businessman and politician from Syracuse, New York. He was elected as the City of Syracuse City Auditor in 2003 and currently is a candidate for re-election to that office.

Personal Life
Philip LaTessa was born in Manhattan and attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School on East 14th Street and lived at Stuyvesant Town . His parents relocated to Syracuse where he was enrolled in the public school systems in Syracuse and then graduated from Christian Brothers Academy High School in Syracuse [http://en. .org/wiki/Christian_Brothers_Academy_(Syracuse,_New_York)]. LaTessa lives on the east side of Syracuse, where he has resided since 1994 .

Business Career
LaTessa earned his Bachelor of Arts B.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1984. He briefly lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and returned to Syracuse. After working as a Financial Adviser, LaTessa was offered a position with JP Morgan Chase as a Mortgage Loan Officer.

In 1997 LaTessa started The Funding Source, a mortgage company . In 2001 the firm was licensed by the New York State Department of Banking as a Mortgage Banker and received HUD Approved FHA Lender status. The Funding Source has over 30 employees.

In 2002 LaTessa started Weichert Realtors, First Residential Group which grew to be the 7th largest real estate firm according to the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors by 2006. LaTessa's real estate company has over 60 affiliated agents and staff.

LaTessa also started the Greatwood Companies in 2004: Greatwood Title and Abstract, LLC employs Attorneys and Paralegals who facilitate closings. Greatwood Appraisal, LLC offers appraisal services. Greatwood Property Management, LLC performs property management work for investors in Central New York.

Political Career
LaTessa ran for the city wide office of Syracuse City Auditor in 2003. He was elected with over 62% of the vote.

LaTessa has been an independent watchdog over the city finances performing financial and performance based audits on a regular basis. LaTessa has been cited in numerous publications including The Manhattan Institute following his audit of the national HUD 108 loan scandal in Syracuse .

LaTessa also performed the first Performance Audit of the HUD funded program Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today (TNT). . This audit reviewed the pilot program in use in Syracuse and its impact on the neighborhoods and community.

In January of 2007 City Auditor LaTessa was interviewed for the position of New York State Comptroller following the resignation of New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi . LaTessa was one of eighteen candidates interviewed by the New York State Legislature and

LaTessa is a member of the Democratic party and is running for re-election in 2007.

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