A panel of former comptrollers will qualify candidates to succeed state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who resigned last month as part of a plea agreement reached with the Albany district attorney.

Five finalists will be questioned in public hearings this month by senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers and the former comptrollers, after which the State Legislature, dominated by Democrats, will choose the new comptroller from the list of finalists, according to news reports.

The panel, championed by Gov. Spitzer, is an unusual exercise in bipartisanship for Albany, where the process was added to the existing procedure whereby the Legislature is empowered to fill vacancies in statewide office. “We have tried to remove politics from this process...to breed confidence from the public,” Spitzer said.

Hevesi pleaded guilty to felony charges last month after a state Ethics Commission found in October that he had broken the law when he used state employees as personal chauffeurs for his ailing wife.

With three decades in public office, Hevesi earned his reputation as a government watchdog and was reelected to office in November. He also agreed to repay the state more than $206,000.

Although Hevesi resigned to avoid jail time, Local 237 President Carl Haynes noted his achievement and contribution to public service: “As city and state comptroller Hevesi was extremely competent and worked hard for the people of New York. He will always be considered a loyal and dedicated friend to Teamsters Local 237.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg also praised Hevesi, saying, “He did a very good job.”