David Paterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Paterson
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Paterson at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
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| 55th Governor of New York | |
| In office March 17, 2008 – December 31, 2010 |
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| Lieutenant | Joseph Bruno (acting) Dean Skelos (acting) Malcolm Smith (acting) Pedro Espada Jr. (acting) Richard Ravitch |
| Preceded by | Eliot Spitzer |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Cuomo |
| Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 2007 – March 17, 2008 |
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| Governor | Eliot Spitzer |
| Preceded by | Mary Donohue |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Bruno (acting) |
| Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee | |
| In office May 21, 2014 – November 4, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Keith L. T. Wright |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Comar |
| Minority Leader of the New York State Senate | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Martin Connor |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Smith |
| Member of the New York State Senate | |
| In office December 10, 1985 – December 31, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Leon Bogues |
| Succeeded by | Bill Perkins |
| Constituency | 29th district (1985–2002) 30th district (2003–2006) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Alexander Paterson
May 20, 1954 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Basil Paterson |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) Hofstra University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
David Alexander Paterson (born May 20, 1954) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 55th governor of New York from March 2008 to December 2010. He became governor after Eliot Spitzer resigned.
Paterson is a member of the Democratic Party. He made history as the first legally blind person to become a governor in the U.S. He was also the first African-American governor of New York.
Before becoming governor, Paterson worked in government for many years. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1985. In 2003, he became the Senate Minority Leader. In 2006, he was chosen to be Eliot Spitzer's running mate for governor. They won the election, and Paterson became Lieutenant Governor of New York.
As governor, Paterson led New York during a tough economic time called the Great Recession. He worked to cut state spending. After leaving office, he became a radio talk show host and led the New York Democratic Party. In 2020, he wrote a book about his life.
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Early Life and Education
David Paterson was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 20, 1954. His mother was Portia Hairston Paterson, and his father was Basil Paterson. His father was also a well-known politician in New York.
When David was three months old, an ear infection damaged his optic nerve. This left him unable to see with his left eye and with very limited vision in his right eye. Because of this, his family moved to South Hempstead so he could attend regular schools. He was the first student with a disability in the Hempstead public schools. He graduated from Hempstead High School in 1971.
Paterson went on to college at Columbia University, earning a degree in history in 1977. He then studied law at Hofstra Law School, graduating in 1983.
New York State Senate (1985–2006)
In 1985, David Paterson was elected to the New York State Senate. He took over a seat that his father, Basil Paterson, had once held. This district covered parts of Manhattan, including Harlem.
He was re-elected ten times and served in the State Senate until 2006. During his time there, he became known for his ability to work with others.
Senate Minority Leader (2003–2006)
On November 20, 2002, Paterson was chosen by his fellow Democrats to be the Minority Leader in the State Senate. This was a big achievement. He became the first non-white person to lead a state legislative group in New York. He was also the highest-ranking Black elected official in New York's history at that time.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor (2006–2008)
In 2006, Eliot Spitzer, who was running for governor, chose David Paterson as his running mate. A running mate is someone who runs for lieutenant governor alongside the candidate for governor. This was a surprise to many in New York politics.
The Spitzer–Paterson team won the election by a large amount. Paterson became the Lieutenant Governor of New York on January 1, 2007.
Governor of New York (2008–2010)
On March 17, 2008, Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned from his position. David Paterson then became the 55th governor of New York. He was sworn in at the New York State Capitol.
Paterson made history as the first Black governor of New York. He was also the second legally blind governor of a U.S. state. His staff would read documents to him using voice mail.
As governor, Paterson faced a very difficult time. The state was dealing with a major economic crisis. He had to make tough decisions about the state's budget. He worked to cut spending and manage the state's finances. He even took a 10% pay cut himself to show his commitment.
Paterson made important appointments during his time as governor. In 2009, he appointed Kirsten Gillibrand to a vacant U.S. Senate seat. He also appointed Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor.
2010 Gubernatorial Election
In October 2008, Paterson announced he planned to run for a full term as governor. However, public opinion polls showed that his popularity had dropped.
On February 26, 2010, Paterson decided to withdraw from the race. Later that year, Andrew Cuomo became the Democratic candidate for governor and won the election.
Later Career
After leaving the governor's office at the end of 2010, David Paterson continued to be active. He became a talk-show host on a New York radio station, WOR.
In 2012, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Paterson to the board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). The MTA manages public transportation in New York City and the surrounding areas.
Paterson also became a professor at Touro College in Harlem. He advised them on health care and public policy. He also worked in financial services.
In 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Paterson as the chairman of the New York Democratic Party. He held this position until November 2015.
In late 2020, Paterson released his first book. It was titled Black, Blind, & In Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity. The book shares his life story and the people and history that influenced him.
In 2023, a building in Albany, New York was named after Governor Paterson. This honored the 15th anniversary of him becoming governor.
Personal Life
David Paterson married Michelle Paige in 1992. They had a son two years later. The couple separated in 2012 and divorced in 2014.
In 2019, Paterson married Mary Sliwa in New York City. They have three children in their family.
Paterson is Catholic.
See also
In Spanish: David Paterson para niños
