Mar 14, 2008 6:33 am US/Eastern
Paterson Vows To Get N.Y. 'Back On Track'
Governor-To-Be Makes First Comments About Scandal Following Spitzer's Resignation
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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David Paterson will be New York's 55th governor and the first black leader of the state.
NY.gov
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New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, right, holds a news conference in New York City with his wife, Silda, by his side on March 10, 2008, after it was announced that he has been involved in a prostitution ring.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
He wasn't elected governor, and he admitted he won't be moving into the governor's office the way he'd wanted to, but David Paterson is determined to right the ship of state and get the Legislature to deal with New York's pressing financial problems..
"I promised the governoment yesterday that I'd commit myself to the people of this great state; that we would have stability and continuity in those challenges that lie ahead," Paterson said during his first news conference since Eliot Spitzer's resignation. "Now we have to get back on track."
Although he won't be sworn in until Monday, Paterson held the conference to tell people the state is in good hands and that the Spitzer steamroller has been replaced by the Paterson iron – by a man who wants to iron away the wrinkles with everybody's help.
"We will all commit ourselves in a bi-partisan way to building relationships that will restore the public trust in our government," he said.
Paterson, who will be the first African-American governor – and the nation's first legally blind chief executive – says his heart goes out to Eliot Spitzer, a man who inspired him, and his family for the pain they are going through because of Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring.
Before the news conference, Paterson said he held a "positive" mindset. "I'm getting over it, but I was in a state of shock," he said.
Paterson talked of getting the budget done on time, working on property tax reform, education, and the state's ailing economy. Those who know him say he will be a far different kettle of fish than Spitzer.
"David brings a unique and different personality to the job. He's been here, he's been a legislator, he's been
So while we know some of his priorities and some of his problems, now we have to see how he'll get them done.
"It is a daunting challenge, I've had many of them and I'm pretty excited about trying to fulfill what is expected of me," he said. "That's always a high expectation and it's fun in the one life that we all have to try and go beyond, perhaps, even where you may have thought you ever went to go."
Paterson will be sworn in during a public ceremony in Albany on Monday at noon.
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