Meet Your Future Governor, David A. Paterson

Now that the steamroller is flattened like a pancake, it's time to meet the soon-to-be new boss. Same as the old boss? Certainly not on the surface: Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson (pictured being sworn in back in 2007) is a 53-year-old African-American who has been legally blind since infancy.

Thanks to Spitzer's total meltdown, Paterson, who has partial vision in just one eye, will be the first African-American governor of New York State, the fourth black governor in American history and the first legally blind governor ever. As stipulated by the New York State constitution, the former Lieutenant Governor is permitted to serve out Spitzer's term, which concludes in 2010. Spitzer's resignation is expected to go into effect on Monday to give Paterson time to coordinate a transitional team.

Until taking office with Spitzer last year, he was a State Senator for the 30th district, which includes Harlem; before that he represented the 29th district from 1986 to 2003. As the first black NYS Senate minority leader, Paterson was an advocate for tougher domestic violence laws, a $1 billion voter-approved stem cell research initiative, and a statewide alternative energy strategy.

Paterson is the son of former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson, who was the first African-American Deputy Mayor of New York City and the first African-American to run for statewide office in New York; Paterson fils is the state’s first African-American Lieutenant Governor. He graduated from Columbia with a BA in History in 1977, went on to attain a law degree from Hofstra, and before entering politics worked for the Queens District Attorney. He resides in Harlem with his wife and has two children; in 1999 he ran in the New York City Marathon.

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By John Del Signore in News on March 12, 2008 9:50 AM

Comments [rss]

Kojak

When you work in state government, you don't get much sun. Look at the Spitz. He's whiter than white.

Spear_Chucker

Is Paterson the palest looking black guy ever?

j0sh

it would be cooler if he had some super powers to go along with his blindness.. other than 'slightly more acute hearing'.

nony

David Pattern lives in a rent stabilized apartment at Lenox Terrace in Harlem. Lovely, our GOVERNOR enjoys RENT STABILIZATION!! If you pay market rate, you're a poor shmuck!

Expect no changes to Rent Stabilization laws, thanks to our Governor! Yeah Baby!

JenChungsBaby

Paterson himself has made jokes about it. He said once that politicians need vision and that he didn't have any. Don't sweat it, Mr. Politically Correct.

Kojak

You shouldn't knock him for being blind. As a result of his blindness, all of his other senses are sharper and more enhanced.

Ever heard of that superhero called 'Daredevil'?

Art Stewel

Did anyone see that clip on the news last night of Patterson starting a session by smashing the wood gavel? No joke, he missed the wood sounding block and hit a water glass. I know I am going to hell, but it was damn funny.

jenchungstypo

Like Paterson has never heard the blind jokes before. He probably has a few good ones of his own.

stollef

It's astonishing to read all the fun you guys are having making jokes about blindness. Bad Karma. I hope you or your loved ones go blind!

Sick f+++s

aveB4life

i'm dying laughing reading these. thank you witty new yorkers

aveB4life

i'm dying laughing reading these. thank you witty new yorkers

ANGRYGOD11

Expectations are so low Paterson cannot mess it up, unless he really tries.

jchez

I'm not sure but I have a feeling that this mild mannered blind man will be eaten alive by the viciousness of Albany's political animals.

kearnj

He was watching Spitzer's downfall, here's his chance!

jaja007

jenchungsgrammar is the best online nom de plume since "cockfist the destroyer"

JenChungsBaby

I'm not suggesting anything. I'm just telling what me and my wife both saw. We both talked afterward about how the blind Lt. Governor was schmoozing this hot babe right there at the bar and we both thought he was single and on a date. But like I said, it could have been his wife. God bless him if it was his wife because not only was she hot (does that matter to a legally blind man?) but they looked very happy together.

Let's just say that they were seeing eye-to-eye on things.

blablanyc

He believes in blind justice.

blablanyc

It's the blind leading the blind in Albany.

Art Stewel

..less than 20-20??

sorry.

Art Stewel

JenChungsBra: Are you suggesting Patterson is 'Client

Gregoire

Hopefully Paterson will not be a sorry spectacle.

JenChungsBaby

He's married? I sat next to Paterson last year at the bar at Acqua at 94th and Amsterdam. It was mid-week at about 7PM and he was chatting up some very attractive middle aged woman who was obviously there with him. Just from watching the two of them together I assumed he must have been single. Maybe it was his wife, I don't know.

matukonyc

Fils is used, like "Junior," to distinguish father from son who share the exact same name.

Lieutenant Governor Paterson is not "David Paterson fils;" if his name were also Basil Paterson (like his father), then he'd be "Basil Paterson fils."

jenchungsgrammar

I can clearly see that he'll be a more visionary gov then spitzer. his views on the future are insightful, and he never turns a blind eye to excessive government spending. his policies are never shortsighted, and so now, let us all raise our glasses to him.