David Paterson

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David Paterson
David Paterson

Paterson at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival


Incumbent
Assumed office 
March 17, 2008
Lieutenant Joseph Bruno (Acting)
Preceded by Eliot Spitzer

In office
January 1, 2007 – March 17, 2008
Governor Eliot Spitzer
Preceded by Mary Donohue
Succeeded by Joseph Bruno (Acting)

Born May 20, 1954 (1954-05-20) (age 54)
Brooklyn, New York
Political party Democratic
Spouse Michelle Paige Paterson
Residence New York State Executive Mansion, Albany, New York
Harlem, New York
Guilderland, New York[1]
Alma mater Columbia University
Hofstra University School of Law
Profession Politician

David Alexander Paterson (born May 20, 1954) is an American politician and the current Governor of New York. He is the first legally blind and the first black governor of New York. He is one of two black governors in the United states, the other being Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. For the first time in U.S. history two black governors serve co-currently.

After graduating from law school, Paterson worked in the District Attorney's office of Queens County, New York, and on the staff of Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins. In 1985, he was elected to the New York State Senate to a seat that was once held by his father, former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson. In 2003, he rose to the position of Senate Minority Leader. Paterson was selected as running mate by then New York Attorney General and Democratic Party nominee Eliot Spitzer in the 2006 New York gubernatorial election.[2] They were elected in November 2006 with 69 percent of the vote, and Paterson took office as Lieutenant Governor on January 1, 2007.[3]

After Spitzer resigned in the wake of a prostitution scandal, Paterson was sworn in as governor of New York on March 17, 2008.[4]

Contents

[edit] Early life and background

David Paterson was born in Brooklyn to Portia and Basil Paterson, later a New York state senator and secretary of state, and deputy mayor of New York City.[5] At the age of three months, Paterson contracted an ear infection which spread to his optic nerve, leaving him with no sight in his left eye and severely limited vision in his right.[5][6] Since New York City public schools would not guarantee him an education without placing him in special education classes, his family bought a home in the Long Island suburb of Hempstead so that he could attend mainstream classes there. The first disabled student in the Hempstead public schools, he graduated from Hempstead High School in 1971.[7][8][9][10]

Paterson received a BA in history from Columbia University in 1977 and a law degree from Hofstra Law School in 1983.[7] After law school, he went to work for the Queens District Attorney's Office, but was unable to complete the New York bar examination, and so did not become an attorney at law. He attributed his failing the New York bar to insufficient accommodation for his visual impairment, and has since advocated for changes in bar exam procedures.[9]

[edit] Political career

Paterson speaking at a rally in Albany in May 2007
Paterson speaking at a rally in Albany in May 2007[11]

In 1985, Paterson resigned his position as assistant district attorney to join the campaign of then city clerk David Dinkins to win the Democratic nomination for Manhattan Borough President. That summer, on August 6, state senator Leon Bogues died, and Paterson sought and obtained the Democratic party nomination for the seat. In mid-September, a meeting of 648 Democratic committee members on the first ballot gave Paterson 58% of the vote. That October, Paterson won the hotly contested special State Senate election.[12][13] At the time, the 29th Senate district covered the Manhattan neighborhoods of Harlem, Manhattan Valley and the Upper West Side, the same district that Paterson's father had represented.[7] Upon his election, Paterson became the youngest State Senator in Albany. He won the seat again in 1986 for a full term representing the 29th District in the New York State Senate, and served as senator until assuming the office of Lieutenant Governor on January 1, 2007.[14][15]

[edit] Senate minority leader

Paterson was elected by the Democratic caucus of the Senate as Minority Leader on November 20, 2002, becoming both the first non-white state legislative leader and the highest-ranking African American elected official in the history of New York State, unseating the incumbent Minority Leader, Martin Connor. Paterson became known for his consensus-building style coupled with sharp political skills.[16]

In 2006, Paterson sponsored a controversial bill to limit the use of deadly force by the police, but later changed that position. He also supported non-citizen voting in New York local elections. According to the New York Post, he "chalked up a heavily liberal record."[17] Describing Paterson's tenure in the senate, The New York Times cited his "wit, flurries of reform proposals and unusual bursts of candor."[18]

[edit] Lieutenant Governor of New York

Paterson was selected by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as his running mate for the Governor's office in 2006. The news stunned the New York political world, as the Democratic minority was poised to possibly take over the state legislature. Paterson would trade a possible powerful Senate Majority Leader position for the largely ceremonial Lieutenant Governor post.[19] During their 2006 campaign, Paterson resolved a dispute with Spitzer over turf wars between staff members.[20] The Spitzer-Paterson ticket won a landslide victory in the election, with 69% of the vote. It was the largest margin of victory in a gubernatorial race in New York history, and the second-largest for any statewide race in New York history.[21]

In late December 2006, shortly before being sworn in as lieutenant governor, Paterson said that if he ever succeeded Spitzer as governor, he and Nelson A. Rockefeller would have something besides the governorship in common: great difficulty in reading. Rockefeller was dyslexic, which Paterson compared to his blindness.[22] During his time as Lieutenant Governor, Paterson also served as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School for International and Public Affairs.[23]

As Lieutenant Governor, Paterson was involved in a range of issues, including:

Stem cell research
Paterson is a proponent of embryonic stem cell research. He led Spitzer's successful 2007 legislative effort to approve a bond issue which will provide at least $1 billion toward stem cell research. Spitzer and Paterson touted the measure partly for its economic development benefits, following California's $3 billion effort, which in turn had been prompted by the U.S. federal government halting funding for such research.[24] The New York state legislature had opposed funding the research, and it remains controversial.[25][26]
Voting rights
In September of 2007, Paterson weighed in on a proposal before the New York City Council to extend voting rights to noncitizens.[27] He told a crowd gathered at the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade that he believed noncitizens should be granted voting rights.[17][28] He stressed he was asking for a change in policy, rather than a new law, citing that although 22 states and territories between 1776 and 1920 allowed the practice, none do now.[29] Governor Spitzer issued a statement that he did not agree with Paterson's position, and claimed he was unaware Paterson would be speaking on the matter.[30] Paterson had tried to introduce legislation granting voting rights to noncitizens as a State Senator fifteen years earlier.[27][31]
Lawsuit over bias allegation
In February 2008, a U.S. District Judge denied a motion to dismiss a racial discrimination lawsuit naming Paterson.[32][33] A former staff photographer, a Caucasian male, claimed that he was the victim of discrimination in 2005 when Paterson's office replaced him with an black photographer. According to the New York Post, Paterson's chief of staff "denied the claim... Paterson, in his deposition, countered that the decision... was simple politics - [the photographer] was a holdover from former Minority Leader Marty Connor, who was ousted by Paterson in 2003."[34]

[edit] Governor of New York

See also: Cabinet of David Paterson
The Paterson Executive Chamber
OFFICE NAME TERM
Governor David Paterson 2008 – 
Lieutenant Governor Joe Bruno (Acting as)  – 
Secretary to the Governor Charles J. O'Byrne 2008 – 
General Counsel James Yates 2008 – 
Communications Director Risa Heller 2008 – 
Director of State Operations Paul Francis 2008 – 
Chief of Staff Jon Cohen 2008 – 
Office of the Attorney General Andrew Cuomo 2008 – 
Office of the Inspector General vacant  – 
Office of the Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli 2008 – 
Department of Agriculture and Markets Patrick Hooker 2008 – 
Department of Banking Richard H. Neiman 2008 – 
Department of Civil Service Nancy G. Groenwegen 2008 – 
Department of Correctional Services Brian Fischer 2008 – 
Department of Environmental Conservation Alexander Pete Grannis 2008 – 
Department of Education Richard P. Mills 2008 – 
Department of Health Richard F. Daines 2008 – 
Department of Insurance Eric R. Dinallo 2008 – 
Department of Labor M. Patricia Smith 2008 – 
Department of Motor Vehicles David Swarts 2008 – 
Department of Military & Naval Affairs Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto 2008 – 
Department of Public Service Gary A. Brown 2008 – 
Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez 2008 – 
Department of Taxation & Finance Robert L. Megna 2008 – 
Department of Transportation Astrid C. Glynn 2008 – 

Following Spitzer's resignation, Paterson was sworn in as the 55th Governor of New York, at the New York State Capitol on March 17, 2008, by New York Chief Judge Judith Kaye.

Let me reintroduce myself. I am David Paterson and I am the Governor of New York State!

—David Paterson, Inauguration speech on March 17, 2008.[35]

His swearing-in ceremony was attended by all members of the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, New York Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, former New York Governors George Pataki and Hugh Carey, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former New York City Mayors David Dinkins and Ed Koch, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, the entire New York Congressional delegation (both Democrats and Republicans), and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, among others.[36] Former Governor Spitzer was not present.[37]

With his swearing-in, Paterson became the first Lieutenant Governor elevated to the governorship in New York due to a vacancy since 1973, when Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson became Governor upon Nelson Rockefeller's resignation.[38][39]

Paterson is the first African American Governor of New York and the fourth in any U.S. state (following Reconstruction-era Louisiana Gov. P. B. S. Pinchback, former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder, and current Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick). For the first time, two African-American governors serve simultaneously in the United States (Paterson and Patrick). The Lieutenant Governor's office will remain vacant until 2010, when the current term expires. Under the state's constitution, the president pro tempore of the state senate, Joseph Bruno, a Republican, would be next in the line of succession for the Governor's office.[40][41]

[edit] Day one as Governor

Paterson ascended to the governor's office during the busiest legislative period of the year. The state is required by law to pass its budget prior to April 1.[42] He had only two weeks to negotiate with lawmakers a proposal to close a $4.7 billion deficit and pass a $124 billion budget from the Spitzer administration.[43] He stated in his inauguration speech that it would be his top priority.[44]

Paterson also made reference in his speech to the economic woes being faced in the United States, calling them a "crisis", and promised to "adjust the budget accordingly."[45] Since 1984, New York State has only passed a budget on time once, in 2005, leading Paterson to call for an "end to the dysfunction in Albany" in his speech, echoing a 56-page study from the nonpartisan New York University School of Law's Brennan Center for Justice, which referred to the legislature as "the least deliberative and most dysfunctional in the nation".[46][47][48]

Paterson quickly signed five pieces of legislation on his first day in office: to add the New York State Department of Labor to the New York City Transit Track Safety Task Force; to eliminate a law that discouraged employers from holding blood drives; to change the way in which members are appointed to a state health and research board; to restore eligibility caps to certain senior employment programs; and to grant tax exemptions to several local development corporations in New York State.[49]

He went on to ask for letters of resignation from all of his top staff members and state-agency commissioners. This typical action does not mean the hold overs from the Spitzer administration will be replaced, and Paterson said that "having the letters gives him the flexibility to make changes if he decides to".[50]

[edit] Personal revelations

One day after Paterson's inauguration as the Governor of New York, both he and his wife acknowledged having had extramarital affairs, one with a state employee.[51] Paterson's self-admissions are in contravention to what the press has dubbed the "Bear Mountain Compact",[52] a practice by lawmakers that their transgressions north of the Bear Mountain Bridge will not be reported south of it.[53][54][55]

[edit] 2008-09 executive budget

Governor Paterson revised Governor Spitzer's record-size executive budget proposal to cut spending. Budget negotiations carried over past the deadline, causing the new Governor to lament that too many lawmakers were "unwilling to make serious cuts to our budget."[56] On April 10, the $121.7 billion budget package was passed by both houses of the State Legislature. His budget closed a projected $4.6 billion deficit with $1.8 billion of spending cuts, $1.5 billion in additional revenue from increased taxes and fees and $1.3 billion of one time transfers, and did not tap into the state's $1.2 billion of reserves or increase the top income tax rate on those earning $1 million or more.[56]

Paterson's budget provided property tax relief by delivering aid to municipalities, and included restoration of hundreds of millions in property tax rebates for middle-class homeowners and $1 billion for upstate economic development.[57] The spending included a record $1.8 billion aid increase to local school districts, and $2.5 billion in aid for construction projects at state and city public colleges.[56] Governor Paterson decided to fully fund a landmark proposal authored by State Assemblyman Greg Ball, creating a tuition remission program for military veterans, offering them free tuition at both SUNY and CUNY institutions.[58][59][60]

Although the legislature was unable to come to a decision on a separate bill to enact congestion pricing in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the budget "good news for our city."[56] Even though the budget enacted was the first in a decade that included less spending than the proposal, and Paterson promised to slash next year's state budget by 5 to 10 percent, because the spending plan he inherited was "too big and too bloated."[61] The accidental nature of Paterson's ascension may have hampered his involvement in this year's process to some degree, but he told the New York Times that "I think we passed a sound budget, but I don’t think that we left ourselves enough room."[62]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Confessore, Nicholas (2008-03-26). Paterson Family Is Moving Into the Executive Mansion. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  2. ^ Healy, Patrick D.. "Spitzer Asks State Senator From Harlem to Join Ticket", The New York Times, 2006-01-23. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  3. ^ "Elections 2006: Governor / New York", CNN. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  4. ^ Confessore, Nicholas. "Paterson Is Sworn In as Governor", The New York Times, 2008-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-03-20. 
  5. ^ a b Mandelaro, Jim. "Paterson inspires pride at School for the Blind in Batavia", Democrat and Chronicle, 2008-03-13. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  6. ^ Nichols, David. "David Paterson: Activist, Progressive...Governor", The Nation, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  7. ^ a b c Salmon, Stephanie. "10 Things You Didn't Know About David Paterson", U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  8. ^ Henderson, Nia-Malika. "Paterson was standout student who beat the odds", Newsday, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. "At Fulton School, Paterson was in the forefront of integrating the school system, both because of his race and disability... From Fulton School, Paterson went onto Hempstead High School, where he graduated in 1971... In the 1969 yearbook, Paterson is in the radio club... During his years at the high school, the population was integrated, yet white flight was becoming apparent, students recalled." 
  9. ^ a b Smith, Ben. "Spitzer's Mate David Paterson Is Mystery Man", The New York Observer, 2006-02-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  10. ^ "From Harlem to Albany" (Flash), The New York Times, 2008-03-15, p. 4th slide. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. "1971... He becomes the first legally disabled person to attend the district's public schools and graduates from Hempstead High School in three years." 
  11. ^ David Paterson Introduces.... Flickr. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  12. ^ "Ex-Prosecutor Is Nominated For a Manhattan Senate Seat", The New York Times, 1985-09-16. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  13. ^ Chan, Sewell. "David A. Paterson, Next in Line", The New York Times, 2008-03-11. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  14. ^ "New York City Senate Districts (1992)". The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  15. ^ "New York City Senate Districts (2002)". The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  16. ^ Confessore, Nicholas; Jeremy W. Peters. "A Bipartisan Prediction of Harmony in Albany", The New York Times, 2008-03-13. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 
  17. ^ a b Lovett, Kenneth. "Paterson's '06 Misfire", New York Post, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  18. ^ David A. Paterson. Times Topics. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  19. ^ Cooper, Michael. "For a Politician in a Position to Gain Power, a Stunning Move", The New York Times, 2006-01-25. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  20. ^ Gray, Geoffrey. "Spitzer's Peace With Paterson", New York, 2006-10-30. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  21. ^ Healy, Patrick. "Clinton and Democrats Sweep Races in New York", The New York Times, 2006-11-08. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  22. ^ Roberts, Sam. "Paterson & Son, Offices in Harlem and Albany", The New York Times, 2007-12-27. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  23. ^ Official Website of Lieutenant Governor David Paterson. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  24. ^ Confessore, Nicholas. "Spitzer Wants New York to Enter the Stem Cell Race", The New York Times, 2007-01-16. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  25. ^ Eggleston, Luke. "Gift of Life", Catholic Sun, Diocese of Syracuse, January 18-24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  26. ^ Editorial. "A Better New York Budget", The New York Times, 2007-04-03. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  27. ^ a b Paybarah, Azi. "Paterson, Without Spitzer Administration, Praises Non-Citizen Voting", New York Observer, 2007-09-03. 
  28. ^ Rae, Leah. "David Paterson on immigration", Journal News, 2008-03-11. 
  29. ^ Hayduk, Ron, and Michele Wucker. "Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention", Migration Information Source, November 2004. 
  30. ^ Danis, Kirsten. "Lt. Gov. David Paterson for granting noncitizens right to vote", Daily News, 2007-09-04. 
  31. ^ Pierre-Pierre, Gary. "West Indians Adding Clout At Ballot Box", The New York Times, 1993-09-06. 
  32. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth. "Discrimination Suit Against Senate Dems Moves Forward", Daily News, 2008-02-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  33. ^ Maioriello v. New York, Northern District of New York. 2008. No. 1:05-CV-1062 (MS Word Document). Daily News.
    Slip Copy, 2008 WL 398483 (N.D.N.Y.). February 12, 2007. United States District Court, N.D. New York. Maioriello v. New York. (Joseph MAIORIELLO, Plaintiff, v. NEW YORK State, New York State Senate, New York State Senate Minority, Defendants. N.D.N.Y., 2008. No. 1:05-CV-1062 (NAM/DRH)).
  34. ^ Lovett, Kenneth. "Pol Has 'Color Blind' Excuse", New York Post, 2008-02-19. Retrieved on 2008-03-12. 
  35. ^ Paterson, David (2008-03-17). Remarks to a Joint-Session of the New York State Legislature. Governor of New York. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
  36. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth. "Paterson's dignitaries", Daily News, 2008-03-17. 
  37. ^ Kryszak, Joyce. "Paterson Takes Oath of Office, Promises to Restore Trust", WBFO, 2008-03-17. 
  38. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "Former Gov. Malcolm Wilson, 86, Is Dead", The New York Times, 2000-03-14. Retrieved on 2008-03-24. 
  39. ^ Hinman, Sarah J.; Margaret Williams. "Historical Overview of the Governors of New York State", Times Union, 2008-03-15. Retrieved on 2008-03-19. 
  40. ^ Associated Press. "Paterson's move to governor elevates Bruno", Staten Island Live, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 
  41. ^ See Article IV, Section 6, Clause 4 of the NYS Constitution.
  42. ^ Peters, Jeremy W.. "Paterson Is Calling the Shots on Swearing-In", The New York Times, 2008-03-17. 
  43. ^ Thompson, Maury. "Paterson: It's time to get to work", Post Star, 2008-03-18. 
  44. ^ Goldman, Henry. "Paterson to Focus on New York Budget in First Days as Governor", Bloomberg, 2008-03-17. 
  45. ^ Gralla, Joan. "NY new governor says economy headed toward a crisis", Reuters, 2008-03-17. 
  46. ^ Creelan, Jeremy and Moulton, Laura. "The New York State Legislative Process". Brennan Center for Justice, New York University School of Law. 2004-07-21. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  47. ^ McMahon, E.J. (October 2005). Breaking the Budget in New York State. Policy Briefing. Empire Center, Manhattan Institute. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  48. ^ Editoral. "Paterson must hit the ground running to move state ahead". Star Gazette. 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  49. ^ Anderson, Liz. "Day: one. Bills: five", Journal News, 2008-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  50. ^ Gallagher, Jay. "Paterson asks for wholesale resignations", Journal News, 2008-03-19. 
  51. ^ "N.Y. governor: State employee among my several affairs", CNN, 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-22. 
  52. ^ Baker, Al. "Albany Faces Its Sex Problem, and Nobody's Snickering", The New York Times, 2004-05-16. 
  53. ^ Gormley, Michael. "Talk of sex dominates Albany", Associated Press, 2008-03-20. 
  54. ^ Burnett, Marie Miranti (2005). Sex, Secrets, and Lies: The Marriage Vows Revisted. iUniverse, p.3. ISBN 0595340822. Retrieved on 2008-03-24. 
  55. ^ Tomasky, Michael. "Capital Offense", New York Magazine, 2003-06-23. 
  56. ^ a b c d Quint, Michael. "New York's Paterson, Lawmakers Agree on State Budget". Bloomberg. April 9, 2003.
  57. ^ Gallagher, Jay and Spector, Joseph. "$124 billion state budget plan expected to pass today". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 9, 2008.
  58. ^ "Bill Summary - A08532". New York State Assembly. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.
  59. ^ Neroulias, Nicole. "New York's new budget funds veterans tuition assistance". Journal News. April 10, 2008.
  60. ^ "Part N – Amend the Education Law in relation to tuition assistance for veterans, Memorandum in Support Article VII Legislation, Education, Labor, and Family Assistance, Enacted Budget, 2008-09 New York State Executive Budget." New York State Division of the Budget. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
  61. ^ Seifman, David and Lovett, Kenneth. "Paterson: I'll Slash Budget by $12 Bil". New York Post. April 9, 2008.
  62. ^ Hakim, Danny. "Vexed Cry of a Thwarted Governor: ‘Wait Till Next Year’". New York Times. April 10, 2008.

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Leon Bogues
New York State Senate, 29th District
1986 – 2002
Succeeded by
Thomas Duane
Preceded by
Eric Schneiderman
New York State Senate, 30th District
2003 – 2006
Succeeded by
Bill Perkins
Preceded by
Martin Connor
New York State Senate Minority Leader
2003 – 2006
Succeeded by
Malcolm Smith
Preceded by
Mary Donohue
Lieutenant Governor of New York
2007 – 2008
Succeeded by
Joseph Bruno
Acting
Preceded by
Eliot Spitzer
Governor of New York
2008 – present
Incumbent


Persondata
NAME Paterson, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Paterson, David Alexander
SHORT DESCRIPTION Governor of New York
DATE OF BIRTH May 20, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Brooklyn, New York
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Personal tools