David Paterson: New York's Next Governor

If New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is forced to step down over his involvement in the prostitution ring Emperor's Club VIP, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson is set to become the state's 55th Governor — and the first African American to hold that position (and only the fourth African American governor in US history). Who is the man who may become Governor?

• David Paterson was born legally blind in Brooklyn in 1954 (Wikipedia)
• BA from Columbia University, JD from Hofstra Law School (Wikipedia)
• Former State Senator from New York's 30th District
• First elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate in 1985 (Paterson for New York)
• Elected Minority Leader of the New York State Senate in 2002, the first non-white legislative leader in New York's history (Paterson for New York)
• Ran New York City Marathon in 1999 (NNDB)
• Defended himself against bias claims last month after replacing white photographer with black photographer (New York Post)
• Previously tussled with Spitzer over turf wars (New York Magazine)
• Asked by the League of Women voters, "If elected, what are your qualifications to serve as Governor should you be called upon to do so during your term as Lt. Governor?" Paterson responded:

  Eliot Spitzer and I want to restore hope to New York. I'm running because the lessons I learned from my family, my hometown in Harlem and from working in Albany compelled me to try to address New York's critical problems. Together, we want to bring promise back to the state.

  (SmartVoter.org)
• Rankled Spitzer supporter's with a public promise of a "Paterson-Spitzer administration" (New York Observer via Politico)

Comments

[PuffAndStuff]

05:06 PM on 03/18/2008

I believe the first bullet point you, and evidently wikipedia, have written --

"David Paterson was born legally blind in Brooklyn in 1954 (Wikipedia)'

-- is factually incorrect. I've read elsewhere that went legally blind at 3 months of age as a result of a medical virus. He was born with normal eyesight.

[WorkingWoman]

09:48 PM on 03/13/2008

Why are some bloggers so rude? Paterson is legally blind. Are there not limits to the rude insults allowed on this site? He looks like a fine gentleman, and, until proven otherwise, I will address him with respect. I don't hear him trying to incite a race war. I don't see him trying to stir things up. So far, he has shown himself to be a class act and I respect anyone who can overcome a disability such as blindness and get to the professional level that he has achieved.

I wonder, how many people on this blog site have achieved post graduate degrees and gone on to become the next Governor of one of the largest populated states in this country? And to top it off, he did all this as a blind man.

What you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me. Do any of you have any idea who said those words? Whether you support Clinton or Obama, show some respect.

[AkebulanTechnocrat]

10:07 AM on 03/11/2008

Mr. Paterson's father is a machine democrat, so he is a product of the same system. However, he has not fully embraced all of his fathers cronies. Many of the old-school Black democrats didn't think that he had paid his dues and would have prefered a 'seasoned' (read: beholden to the elite) running partner for Spitzer. I met Spitzer a few times, he's not one to suffer idiots. Paterson's dad is a legend in NY politics. There is a lot of favors owed to the man. He must be estatic. He personally groomed many of the Black and Hispanic politicians that have come of age in NYC. So Paterson Jr. has his own loyal base. Besides, Paterson has the bona fides, without most the baggage that comes with being a professional politician in New York.

Good luck David, You're gonna need it!

[3fingerbrown]

07:48 AM on 03/11/2008

A crippled Spitzer administration run by a lieutenant governor with no money increases the chances we'll see a Bloomberg-Giuliani showdown in the next election. I think both these guys had their eyes on the office before this scandal; now they're licking their chops. If it happens, it'll be a great show.

Assuming Client 9 resigns, Patterson will back Clinton all the way. He'll need the help of as many powerful friends in the state as he can get, and Hillary's a good place to start. There will be a honeymoon period, but before long Patterson will be a lamb among the Albany wolves. He'll need the clout of people like Clinton, Schumer, Rangel, Nadler to keep from being overwhelmed by one of the most crooked and dysfunctional state governments in the union.

The last NY Lt. Governor to assume the governorship was Malcom Wilson, who took over when Nelson Rockefeller died "in the saddle" at the swanky love nest of his discreet mistress. Ah, for the days when governors really knew how to make an exit.

[Heidfeld]

05:59 AM on 03/11/2008

The next Governor will be Tom Suozzi or Andrew Cuomo.

As usual, like with their Obama biased reporting of the primary, Huff Po is confused.

[pollster08]

10:42 PM on 03/10/2008

This is a sign if there ever was one.....LOL I am hoping he supports Obama! WOW!

[qwr]

03:26 AM on 03/14/2008

Nah, he's a NY pol, and will support Clinton, as Spitzer had. But if Spitzer weren't a NY pol, he would have probably supported Obama. Just a guess.

[msirt]

08:06 PM on 03/10/2008

Hey, why not? We have a blind President of the United States, after all.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

07:39 PM on 03/10/2008

anyone for a re vote for Governor of New York

[Waitaminute]

08:16 PM on 03/10/2008

NO!

[cakelady]

07:27 PM on 03/10/2008

I really don't know what they will do in NY but if they deside that Mr. Spitzer must resign from everything I've read Mr. David Paterson sounds like the right candidate for the job. His resume is really good and who is to say what handicaps a person? You can go as far as you want if you work hard and have confidence in yourself. He must have had great parents who let him know the world was his and to make the most of it, which is just what he did. Hooray for Mr. Paterson. What a great example to young people with disabilities he is.

[RevRick]

06:27 PM on 03/10/2008

He has been and will most likely continue to be a Clinton supporter. Very few people in New York’s political scene even considered any of the other nominees.

That being said I have meet Governor Paterson (both the Governor and Lt. Governor share the title), I think he is a good man, with a great sense of humor and I think the State of New York will be in good hands with him in charge.

(That’s right an Obama supporter just complimented a Clinton supporter, and the world didn’t end).

[Roose]

06:08 PM on 03/10/2008

I hope Patterson folllows Spitzer's commitment to Clinton, I don't want anyone associated with Spitzer endorsing Barack.

[Dalicious]

06:07 PM on 03/10/2008

Maybe Clinton will shut up about Renzo now.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

05:45 PM on 03/10/2008

Let's hope he does a better job as Governor than Spitzer.

[VOTER]

05:16 PM on 03/10/2008

The man's resume looks good.

I am glad the state's citizens have him ready to become their next Governor.

What a day!

[cacique88]

04:53 PM on 03/10/2008

Paterson was a Clinton superdelegate before the Spitzer debacle. Nothing will change with respect to that.

Yet Hillary has to deal with that her superdelegates are experiencing this type of news whereas Obama's are gaining office( Foster in Illinois) and endorsing him as their first act . Spitzer will most likely resign causing Clinton a lost superdelegate

Score Clinton -1 Obama + 1