#Comptroller candidate calls for probe into Carranza’s new gig

Comptroller candidate Michelle Caruso-Cabrera is joining City Councilman Bob Holden in calling for a probe into former schools Chancellor Richard Carranza’s new private sector gig.

Carranza quit his post in March and soon joined IXL learning, which was paid millions of dollars from the Department of Education before and during his tenure.

Caruso-Cabrera called on her opponents in the comptroller race — Brad Lander and Corey Johnson — to join her in calling for an investigation into any potential improprieties.

“Under Carranza’s reign, the DOE awarded millions of taxpayer dollars to a controversial e-learning company, and then that very same company announces that it has hired Carranza just three weeks after he steps down as Chancellor?” she said in a statement.

Caruso-Cabrera, who is running as a Democrat, said that the timing of the hire warrants further vetting.

“It is illegal under NYC law for city employees to proactively seek jobs with companies they are dealing with as part of their city job,” she said. “Johnson is the leader of the city’s legislative body, Lander sits on the City Council’s Committee on Education and both are vying to be the city’s top watchdog — how can we trust them to fulfill the oversight duties of the comptroller when they are failing to fulfill them in the City Council?”

Caruso-Cabrera is running second behind Johnson, according to a new NY1/Ipsos poll.

Holden called on the Department of Investigation and the Conflicts of Interest Board  to look into Carranza’s move.

The DOE has paid IXL $5.6 million to use its software since 2011, including $3.3 million in the last two years.

“To suddenly quit a $363,000-a-year job as chancellor suggests he had something to fall back on,” Holden told The Post. 

Carranza could not immediately be reached for comment.

The DOE has denied wrongdoing on his behalf with a spokeswoman saying: “Former Chancellor Carranza has pledged to follow all conflicts rules and will not engage with DOE or NYCDOE school officials on behalf of IXL for one year.”