"Let me reintroduce myself: I am David A. Paterson and I am the Governor of the State of New York."
New York's 55th Governor helped New York State make history, when he took office today as the third African American Governor in the U.S. since reconstruction.
The first two African American Governors are incumbent Deval Patrick of Massachusetts (sworn in last year) and L Douglas Wilder, who took the Virginia office in 1990 and briefly ran for President in 1992.
Patterson's accomlishment should give hope and inspiration to millions of Americans: African Americans, women, the disabled, and anyone who has not traditionally been seen as the mainstream of American society since this country's founding. But, let's not make this about race, gender, or other physical status; all Americans, white, black, Asian, Latino, should be proud of the Governor's ascension.
To underscore the importance of this occasion, various New York media noted the presence of former NY Governors Hugh Carey and George Pataki, Governors Jodi Rell of Connecticut, Deval Patrick of MA, Jon Corzine of NJ, along with New York's two United States Senators, Charles Shumer and Hillary Clinton, New York Mayors Michael Bloomberg, David Dinkins, Ed Koch, and many others.
The most pressing item on Governor Paterson's agenda is getting the State's budget passed while deciding where to trim $5 billion, according to NY1 news. There will be the traditional partisan divide on these issues, but he has presented an image as someone who is tough, yet willing to work across party lines. This is what New York needs in its newest Chief Executive.
Who is Governor David Paterson?
Paterson, married to Michelle Paige Paterson and with two children, was born in 1954 in Brooklyn, NY. His father, Basil, is a former New York Secretary of State and Deputy Mayor of New York City. As a baby, he lost vision in his left eye, and lost most vision in his right eye, due to disease. He graduated from Long Island's Hempstead High School in 1971, and earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1977. He went on to earn his law degree from Hofstra Law School in 1983. He then went on to work in the Queens District Attorney's Office.
In 1985, he joined Mayor David Dinkins' campaign for Manhattan Borough President. At the age of 31, he was elected to the 30th State Senate Seat after the incumbent died. In 1993 Paterson ran for New York Public Advocate, losing to Mark Green. He became Senate Democratic Leader in 2002, ousting the incumbent party leader. In 2007, he was elected Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with Eliot Spitzer, and became Governor on March 17, 2008 after the Governor resigned over a personal discretion.
Paterson is a resident of Harlem, and his initial term will last until January, 2011.
