On Monday, March 17, 2008, David A. Paterson was sworn in as New York’s 55th governor.  He is the state’s first Black governor and only the eighth African-American governor in United States’ history.

He will fill the remainder of former Governor Spitzer’s term, leaving the office of Lt. Governor vacant until the 2010 election.  The New York State Constitution makes no provision for electing a new Lt. Governor between gubernatorial elections.

Mr. Patterson was first elected to the New York State Senate in 1985, representing Harlem.  In 2002, he was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history.  In 2004, he became the first visually impaired person to address a Democratic National Convention.  And in 2006, he made history once again by being elected New York’s first African-American lieutenant governor.

Governor Paterson is believed to be just as liberal as Governor Spitzer, when it comes to issues such as the sanctity of human life and same-sex marriage, though not as aggressive in nature. Legislative leaders and Albany-insiders seem to agree that his style of governing would be much more conciliatory. Governor Paterson has a collegial relationship with many in the State Legislature and is described by several legislators as “well-liked.

Even during his days as New York State Senate minority leader, David Paterson was already opposing pro-life voters by proposing legislation for a $1 billion voter-approved stem cell research initiative that made research grants available for embryonic stem cell research.

On the subject of the homosexual agenda, a pro-homosexual publication known as the Advocate describes Gov. Paterson as “ahead of his time on gay issues over the years”, as well as “the best-case scenario for gays and lesbians in the state.”  Ethan Geto, a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) activist, describes Paterson as “extremely LGBT-friendly” and someone “who would absolutely follow through on the commitment of the Senate Democratic conference to pass gay marriage.”

Governor Paterson is legally blind, making him the first blind governor in our nation’s history.  He is nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the visually and physically impaired.  A graduate of Columbia University and Hofstra Law School, Mr. Paterson currently serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia’s School for International and Public Affairs.

Governor David Paterson lives in Harlem with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Ashley and Alex, and he is the son of Basil Paterson, the first non-white secretary of state of New York and the first African-American vice-chair of the national Democratic Party.