David A. Paterson

State Senate

At 31, Paterson became the youngest state senator in New York history. He developed friendships with lawmakers in both parties, but amassed a liberal voting record. During his time in the legislature, Paterson pushed for repeal of strict drug-sentencing laws and sponsored bills that would have granted voting rights to non-citizens and legalized the use of force against a police officer in resisting arrest.Cooper, Michael and Mike McIntire, “Studying the Political Footprints of New York’s Governor-to-Be,” The New York Times, March 16, 2008.

In the 1990s, Paterson tried his hand at city politics, running unsuccessfully in 1993 for New York City public advocate, and making a failed Manhattan borough president bid in 1997. Paterson then turned his attention back to Albany, and in the fall of 2002, he mounted an aggressive backroom challenge to the state Senate Democratic leader, Martin Connor, who had been criticized for siding too often with the Republicans and for a lackluster effort at winning Democratic control of the chamber. The coup was successful, and Paterson became the first African- American to lead a party caucus in the state legislature.Perez-Pena, Richard, “Democrats Assert Unity in Choosing Black Leader,” The New York Times, Nov. 20, 2002.

As state Senate minority leader, Paterson had little institutional power, and he quickly set a goal of ousting the Republican leadership through incremental gains over the course of three election cycles. Democrats took three seats in the subsequent 2004 elections, and they were well on their way to achieving the majority when Paterson found an unexpected opportunity for a political promotion in 2006.

Lieutenant Governor

The offer to run for lieutenant governor shocked the Paterson family as much as anyone else. When Eliot Spitzer, the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, announced his selection of Paterson in January 2006, Basil Paterson had already endorsed another candidate, Leecia Eve, as had the rest of the Harlem “Gang of Four.” It was also unclear whether the job, which has almost no formal responsibilities, would even be a step up from Paterson’s current post as state Senate minority leader. But Paterson surely knew that the post would make him an immediate contender for an appointment to the U.S. Senate to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton if she won the presidency in 2008.

Paterson rode the Spitzer coattails to an easy victory in 2006, and once in office, he quietly pursued issues that he had championed in the state legislature, including expanded funding for stem-cell research, cracking down on domestic violence, and supporting minority and women-owned businesses. The new governor put Paterson in charge of shepherding a $2 billion stem-cell initiative through passage in Albany.Confessore, Nicholas, “Spitzer Wants New York to Enter Stem Cell Race,” The New York Times, Jan. 16, 2007.

‘Accidental Governor’

On March 10, 2008, Paterson was about to have lunch at his desk when an aide told him about the just-published report that federal investigators had caught Spitzer participating in a prostitution ring. He called his father. When Basil Paterson advised him to pray, the younger Paterson told him he had already prayed for the embattled Spitzer. The elder Paterson replied, “Well, actually, I meant that you need to say a prayer for yourself.”Gray, Geoffrey, “Gov. Nice Guy – Everybody Likes David Paterson,” New York Magazine, Oct. 13, 2008.

Within 48 hours, Spitzer had announced his resignation. Paterson asked the departing governor to delay the official transfer of power for a few days to allow for a smooth transition and so he could get up to speed on pressing state matters, particularly Spitzer’s budget proposal, which he acknowledged he had not been involved in crafting. Like everyone else in New York politics, Paterson admitted to being floored by the revelation about Spitzer. “I kind of feel like the student who's getting ready for the final exam but they didn't attend any classes,” he said in a radio interview.Confessore, Nicholas, “Reaching Out, Paterson Offers Different Tone,” The New York Times, March 14, 2008.

As he had throughout his political career, Paterson deployed his trademark wit to ease the tension of the crisis. When during his first press conference as governor-in-waiting a reporter asked him if he had ever patronized a prostitute while holding public office, he replied: “Only the lobbyists.” The room burst into laughter and applause.Gershman, Jacob, “Paterson Offers Early Glimpse of His Agenda,” The New York Sun, March 14, 2008.

Still, personal issues would prove a distraction during the first days of the Paterson gubernatorial administration, and they ultimately forced him not to run for reelection. In an effort to prevent a wider scandal, the new governor confirmed rumors that both he and his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, had had affairs outside their marriage and had been separated for a time.Gonzalez, Juan, “Secret Tryst of New Governor; Paterson Admits to Having Affair for 2 or 3 Years,” New York Daily News, March 18, 2008.

Paterson turned to a growing state budget crisis. A deficit was already forecast at $4.6 billion for 2009 and would soon grow significantly amid a deepening recession and the collapse of titans on Wall Street, which form a huge chunk of the state’s annual tax base

Replacing Sen. Clinton

Paterson also suffered self-inflicted damage due to his handling of the U.S. Senate vacancy created by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s appointment as President Obama’s secretary of state. Speculation in New York centered on whether Paterson would choose Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the slain President John F. Kennedy who was making her first foray into elective politics by publicly declaring her interest in Clinton’s seat. The governor and his staff sent mixed signals about Kennedy throughout the two-month deliberations, and Paterson drew criticism for dragging out his decision.

In the final chaotic day before Paterson announced his choice of Rep. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kennedy said she was withdrawing from consideration, and a bitter war of words erupted between the Paterson and Kennedy camps. Aides to the governor trashed Kennedy in the press, claiming that her candidacy was derailed by vetting issues surrounding her personal finances and her marriage.Dicker, Frederic U., “Nasty Caroline War; Gov Camp Claims Tax and Nanny Woes; Dredges Up Rumor About Marriage; Kennedy Backers Seething and Denying,” New York Post, Jan. 23, 2009.Shouldering most of the blame for the episode, Paterson saw his approval ratings plummet and later acknowledged his role in the leaked claims about Kennedy.

Questions of Influence

Conditions worsened for Paterson very dramatically in the winter of 2010. In January, rumors began to circulate that the New York Times was reporting a career-ending "bombshell" story about governor. Paterson repeatedly denied there was anything to report.

Weeks passed with no story. But in February, the Times finally ran a series of stories that outlined Paterson's close relationship with an aide who assaulted three women.Hakim, Danny and Rashbaum, William, "Paterson Aide's Quick Rise Draws Scrutiny," New York ITmes, Feb. 16, 2010 In the most brutal and recent incident, a woman told police that aide David Johnson "who is 6-foot-7, had choked her, stripped her of much of her clothing, smashed her against a mirrored dresser and taken two telephones from her to prevent her from calling for help," according to the Times. Even more damning was evidence that both Paterson and the State Police (who have no jurisdiction over the matter) reached out to the defendant allegedly to try to keep her from pressing charges.Hakim, Danny, "Question of Influence in Abuse Case of Paterson Aide," New York TImes, Feb, 24, 2010

The story caused an uproar in New York political circles - even former allies like Rep. Bill Perkins and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) urged the governor to quit his campaign. Paterson dropped out of the governor's race days after the piece first broke.Hakim, Danny, "Paterson to Drop Out of Governor Race," New York Times, Feb. 26, 2010

The story the departure of Paterson's top aide, Charles O’Byrne, who resigned in October 2008 after acknowledging that he had not paid taxes for five years, a disclosure that was worsened when he attributed his failure to pay to clinical depression. O’Byrne wielded enormous influence across the Paterson administration, and his resignation — along with resulting staff shakeups over the next several months — was described as a singular blow to Paterson because of how heavily the governor relied on him.

In an acknowledgement of the disarray caused by O’Byrne’s departure, Paterson later asked him to return, although his new role would have been limited to advising the governor’s reelection campaign.Confessore, Nicholas, and Danny Hakim, “Paterson, Facing Low Approval, Overhauls His Staff,” The New York Times, Feb. 22, 2009.

The Economy

With New York’s budget coffers taking a deep hit from the 2008-2009 financial crisis on Wall Street, Paterson began pressing for increased federal assistance from the outset of his tenure, including federal aid for Medicaid and unemployment payments. Paterson supported the George W. Bush administration’s initial $700 billion bailout package in fall 2008, although he indicated early on that more money would probably be needed.Gormley, Michael, “Paterson Sees Slow Rebound for Wall Street, Nation,” The Associated Press, Sept. 25, 2008.The governor was an enthusiastic supporter of the Obama administration’s February 2009 $787 billion stimulus package, which was expected to send nearly $25 billion to New York. “We couldn't be more delighted with the package we have received,” said Paterson in February 2009, as the state was facing a deficit that had ballooned to a projected $13 billion for 2010.Katz, Celeste, “Gov ‘Delighted’ By Big Stimulus,” New York Daily News, Feb. 15, 2009.

The governor and state lawmakers reached a $132 billion budget deal at the end of March 2009 that included $7 billion in new spending, much of that funded by federal stimulus money.Gormley, Michael, The Associated Press, "Paterson, Legislature defend state budget," March 30, 2009

But he will have to redo the budget mid-year because of a projected $3 billion budget gap for 2009-10. Stirring up potentially lasting political trouble from the unions, Paterson announced in April 2009 that he would eliminate the annual 3% pay hike for non-union management employees and thus exempt them from layoffs; union members, whose pay hikes are guaranteed under contract, would be eligible for layoff.The Associated Press, State union rejects offer to avoid layoffs, April 9, 2009

Taxes

Paterson ignited a fiery debate in December 2008 when he proposed new and higher taxes on a bevy of services and products in an effort to close the state’s budget gap. At the center of the plan was a so-called “obesity tax” that would impose an 18% levy on sales of soda and other sugary drinks. Paterson’s budget also called for more taxes and fees on alcohol, car rentals, hair cuts, movie tickets, gasoline and cable TV.Hakim, Danny, “Paterson Proposes Austere Budget to Close Historic Deficit,” The New York Times, Dec. 17, 2008. The governor later dropped the soda-tax plan when it became clear it would not win legislative approval, and at one point he labeled it a “public policy argument” that his administration did not expect to win.Confessore, Nicholas, “Paterson Lowers Expectations on Soda Tax, Calling Approval Unlikely,” The New York Times, Feb. 14, 2009.

Although the soda tax was eliminated, the final budget included billions of dollars in other tax and fees. And Paterson reluctantly agreed to a proposal by Democratic state lawmakers to raise state taxes on the wealthy as part of the March 2009 budget deal with state lawmakers.

Same-Sex Marriage

One of the most significant policy moves of the young Paterson administration was the governor’s directive to state agencies in May 2008 instructing them to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. The decision won acclaim from gay-rights groups and drew criticism from opponents.

But Paterson went a step further in April 2009 when he submitted his own bill to the New York legislature that would legalize gay marriages in the Empire State.Peters, Jeremy W., The New York Times, "Paterson to Submit a Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage," April 15, 2009.