Queens Officials Mixed On Paterson

By DOMENICK RAFTER

Queens elected officials are responding to Gov. David Paterson's decision to forego a run for a full term as governor and accusations that he had his staff personally intervene in an assault case against one of his top aides.

Paterson announced last Friday that he would not run for a full term as Governor in November, after months of being defiant against Democratic leaders all the way up to the White House who had been trying to push him out of the race and clear the Democratic nomination for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

His decision came as The New York Times broke a potentially politically-fatal story that suggested Paterson had members of his staff contact a woman who was accusing a top aide of the governor, David Johnson, of domestic abuse, and plead for her to describe the incident as "nonviolent."

The story prompted the National Organization for Women to call for the governor's resignation and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, whom Paterson appointed to the Senate in January 2009, to suggest he resign. Since then, the governor has also been charged with violating state ethics laws by the state Commission on Public Integrity for securing free tickets to the opening game of last year's World Series at Yankee Stadium for himself and others.

City Comptroller John Liu sharply criticized Paterson and joined the call for his resignation, opening the door for Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch to become the state's fourth governor in four years.

"We have a $4.1 billion budget deficit to grapple with in New York City and cannot make real progress until the State budget is resolved on time one month from now," the former Flushing councilman said. "In order for this to happen, we need Gov. Paterson to step down now."

Liu admitted that he had previously supported Paterson and thanked him for his service, but thought it was time for him to go.

"I have stood by my friend and Governor David Paterson until today," Liu said. "Given New York's precarious fiscal situation and the investigation involving the Governor, even if self-imposed, New York should move forward under Gov. Ravitch."

Ravitch was appointed Lieutenant Governor by Paterson last July after a month-long fight over Senate leadership in the State Senate ended with ethically-challenged State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx) in a position to assume the Governorship should Paterson vacate the office.

Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona), who has long been a staunch supporter of the governor, said that he fears the scandals may cause a diversion that would make it difficult to govern.

"What I'm most afraid of is what will happen as the investigation drags on," Aubry said. "We have a lot of allegations swirling around, and I don't know how quickly we can get those cleared up."

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) praised the governor's decision not to run and said the governor's indecisiveness on major issues played a factor in his political problems.

"I believe that Gov. Paterson's decision not to seek re-election is a prudent one for him personally, the State and our government," said Addabbo. "I have often been a critic of the governor's deficiency in making essential decisions. The lack of his ability to make an important decision has been evident during the selection of a U.S. Senator in 2009, the budget process, last year's State Senate stalemate and most recently, the Aqueduct VLT project."

Paterson had been badly trailing in polls in a potential primary matchup with Cuomo and polls found him neck and neck with likely Republican nominee Rick Lazio, the former Long Island Congressman who lost the 2000 Senate race to Hillary Clinton.

Democrats were concerned a potential primary challenge between Paterson and Cuomo would become racially charged, similar to the primary between Cuomo and former State Comptroller Carl McCall in 2002. McCall won the nomination, but was soundly defeated by Republican George Pataki in the general election. With Paterson out of the race, Democrats expect Cuomo to run. Cuomo is running well ahead of Lazio in early general election polls.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.