CNN
and others reporting
ALBANY, New York (CNN) -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer will resign Wednesday, his aides said, as the New York governor faces allegations -- but no charges -- that he is tied to an international high-dollar prostitution ring ensnared in a federal probe.
Spitzer is scheduled to announce his resignation at 11:30 a.m. ET, a source close to the governor said.
Three Democratic sources involved in state and party politics said Tuesday that negotiations were aimed at orchestrating the governor's resignation as early as Wednesday morning.
Two of the three sources said Spitzer aides were attempting to resolve some remaining political issues, including a formal resignation and transfer of power to Lt. Gov. David Paterson.
Paterson ... a great Progressive will take over.
"It is a 'when' question on the resignation, not an 'if.' He knows that," a Democratic source said. "Eliot knows he cannot hold onto his job here. He might want to, but he is absolutely aware of his predicament." Video Watch how details of the scandal are emerging on the Web »
Paterson, 53, would become the first black governor in the state and the fourth in U.S. history. The former state Senate minority leader, who is legally blind, is the son of Basil Paterson, a longtime Democratic operative in New York City.
I for one am looking forward to having Paterson take over. I've always liked Spitzer, but I've heard really great things about Paterson:
Local elected officials said they expected Lt. Gov. David Paterson to carry on much of the Spitzer agenda if he becomes governor, but hoped the city's concerns would get a more attention under his watch.
He came up through the minor leagues of government," said state Sen. Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn.) "No matter how this turns out, we are fortunate to have a No. 2 in government who is as competent and as well-liked as he is."
Adams is a former New York City police officer, and said he worked with Paterson to add greater diversity to the city's law enforcement agencies.
With the notoriously dysfunctional legislature about to negotiate a new budget, many thought the even-keeled Paterson the ideal person to assume the role of state's top lawmaker.
"He's probably the right guy to bring people together at this present moment," said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf. "A big difference between him and Spitzer, besides temperament and background, is that he has served in the legislature and knows how it works."
Good things ahead?
Many said they were looking forward to a different approach to governing that a Paterson administration could bring.
"I think he'll be a different type of reformer than Eliot Spitzer was," said state Sen. Martin Connor (D-Brooklyn), who Paterson ousted for the minority leader's chair in 2002.
"He won't be as focused on real tough criminal justice measures, but I got a feeling the public won't be looking for that. They have seen where that leads."
One of Paterson's Best Lines to Date from USN:
When asked by the New York Amsterdam News about life lessons he had learned, Paterson replied, "You never get to any level of leadership where your race is not a factor." He continued, "You don't want to be the first; you want to be the first of many."
Again, Paterson will be NY's first African American Gov, and most likely, first of many...
Must share from the comments:
Heh. Reading this over here in the Czech Rep.
I just told a co-worker that NY State has a blind African-American Governor.
She said (in Czech),"It is truly a democratic place."
by Timbuk the Second on Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 08:12:34 AM PDT