Paterson to join Spitzer as running mate (NY Lt. Governor)

[brooklynite]

http://newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?newsId=12771

New York state Senate Minority Leader David Paterson will join state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as his running mate, said a source familiar with the situation.

Mr. Paterson, who has been a senator since 1985, represents Harlem and the Upper West Side. He was elected Senate minority leader in 2002 -- making him the state’s highest-ranking African-American elected official. He has sought to reform the state’s legislative process and to end a string of late budget filings.

Throughout his Senate career, Mr. Paterson has pushed for reforming the Rockefeller drug laws, proposed sweeping changes to the state’s Medicaid crisis. He fought to preserve a 283-year-old African American burial ground in Lower Manhattan that had been threatened by the construction of a 36-story office tower.

Mr. Paterson, who is legally blind, has also lobbied for the rights of visually and physically impaired New Yorkers.

http://newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?newsId=12771

[Rowdyboy]

1. Wow! Looks like an excellent choice to someone from out of state....

I hope New Yawkers agree!



http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.nyssenate30.com/biography.asp&h=209&w=150&sz=22&tbnid=h0VUw94Y1PraZM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=71&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddavid%2Bpaterson%2Bnew%2Byork%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

"Elected to the N.Y. State Senate in 1985 at the age of 31, State Senate Minority Leader David A. Paterson has repeatedly broken barriers, demanded change, and passed legislation on behalf of disenfranchised and disadvantaged New Yorkers throughout his career. Representing the 30th State Senate District, which encompasses Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side, Senator Paterson has worked with every party, every race, and every religious faith to bring social and economic justice to all New Yorkers."

"Senator Paterson has attempted for years to reform New York's draconian Rockefeller drug laws. In 2004, Senator Paterson made real progress when his staff undertook a complete survey of state drug laws across the country. When the survey concluded that New York's drug laws were the harshest in the nation, Senator Paterson asked his Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform to propose alternatives. In December 2004, the Legislature approved a sentencing reform bill that reduced the longest sentences. Not content to simply adjust prison sentences, Senator Paterson continues to advocate for further drug law sentencing reforms, including community-based (rather than prison-based) treatment and offender re-entry programs. These proposals have been lauded nationally, and have been singled out for praise across the political spectrum by national commentators and criminal law reform experts alike as measures likely to reduce recidivism while enhancing public safety."

[Earth_First]

2. I emphatically look forward to casting my vote for Spitzer/Paterson

Go SPITZER! GO!

Any word on Suozzi lately?

[Ignacio Upton]

4. Somebody should tell Suozi to STFU

He is a good County Executive, but he is running on the basis of ambition and ego. He's also friends with Kenneth Langone, co-founder of Home Depot. Langone is pouring money into Suozzi's campaign because he is being investigated by Spitzer. By the way, can someone do a background check of Paterson? We need to make sure that we have someone who is not corrupt (not to generalize State Legislative leaders, but you know that the right-wing will try to dig for dirt.)

[WePurrsevere]

5. It will be a pleasure to vote for these two. They'll make an exc team...

and hopefully a very successful one.

[CGrantt57]

3. Well, Spitzer was a shoe in...

Now, he's a dead lock.

The GOP should just phone it in.

They ain't got shit to beat this duo.

[Rowdyboy]

6. Can't believe more people aren't celebrating this excellent news!

Kick :kick:

[mdmc]

7. I wanted Joe Reggerrio

To help swing the Hudson Valley towards the Democrats. I have never heard of this guy before, but I doubt he will do much to help unseat Sweeney and Sue Kelly.

I hope that he is at least progressive.

[mdmc]

8. How will this choice play in the red parts?

Any help, or is this short sighted pandering.

[Brooklyn Michael]

12. Upstate NY is the red area....

Actually, upstate is pretty moderate, just more red compared to ultra-blue downstate NY...but even THEY like Spitzer. Paterson has no record of saying - or doing - anything stupid, and no public grandstanding that I've ever heard of, so....upstaters should have no trouble with this ticket.

[mdmc]

13. They will do fine, but will he help Dems upstate to turn the tide?

I hope so. I read an article about him in my local paper today. He seems like a progressives dream.

[Doctor_J]

9. Looks professorial

Thsi would set the stage for him to be elected LG when Eliot heads for the Senate in a few years.

[brooklynite]

10. Other way around...

Its been suggested that if Hilary leaves office after the 2008 Presidential race, Spitzer could appoint Patterson to her Senate seat.

[Brooklyn Michael]

11. Pity the Repubs who run against these two....

Make no mistake about it...The next NY Governor's race is going to be an ass-kicking of mammoth proportions. Joe Bruno and every other Republican congressman in New York state better start looking for new work. Eliot will have some very large coattails, and NY could wind up looking even bluer than it already is....

And in answer to Rowdyboy's post - the reason more people aren't celebrating this news is it was pretty much a given that Spitzer was going to take this in a cake walk. The addition of Paterson - a respected state senator - just makes this "race" that much more of a laugher.