Governor David A. Paterson
55th Governor of New York
David Paterson served as New York’s 55th Governor from 2008 to 2010 following the resignation of former Governor Eliot Spitzer. During his tenure as Governor, Paterson is credited for drawing attention to New York’s fiscal woes, stretching the budget-drafting powers of his office, and enacting sweeping reforms on a wide range of issues facing New Yorkers.
In 1985, at the age of 31, David A. Paterson was elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate, becoming the youngest Senator in Albany at the time. In 2003, he became the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history when he was elevated to Minority Leader of the Senate. The former Governor, who is legally blind, made history again in 2004 when he became the first visually impaired person to address the Democratic National Convention, and again in 2007 when he became New York’s first African-American Lieutenant Governor. As Lieutenant Governor, he led the charge on several crucial issues for New York’s future including achieving legislation for stem cell research, working to prevent domestic violence, putting forth a statewide renewable energy strategy and championing the expansion of minority and women owned businesses in New York. The former Governor led the movement to create permanent reforms to health care in New York State, successfully negotiated an MTA bailout plan, and introduced landmark legislation to end legal discrimination against same-sex couples in New York.
Paterson was hosted by The Common Good in 2010: Leadership Series: David Paterson on New York Past and Present.
Twitter: @NYGovPaterson55
