When the GOP ran him against 2 term , ultra liberal Mario Cuomo, he was not expected to win. However, his message resonated with voters in a very BLUE state. So sure were they that he would lose that no monies were ever allocated for his transition team. This can be quite costly as it entails setting up an office with equipment, staff, computer networks, telephones, payroll, etc. Monies needed to be raised to cover these expenses.
Pataki never forgot this! During his 3 terms, he reduced costs, cut taxes and built up state income. From that, he set aside monies for the next gubernatorial winner to cover the expenses of his transition ... AND ... created a rainy day fund to be used when the state found itself in financial difficulty.
After 3 terms, Pataki ceded his place to newly elected Governor Eliot Spitzer who burned through the transition account and never replaced it. When Spitzer was caught in a prostitution scandal, he was succeeded by Governor David Paterson. Like his predecessor, he took full advantage of any excess funds and rapidly consumed all of the "rainy day" monies set aside by Pataki.
My position during the Pataki Administration was in the computer unit; we were not appointed. However, it was truly an honor, as a native New Yorker who hates politics, to have assisted the Pataki staff during his 3 term administration. They were a cohesive group with a positive outlook. Those years stand in stark contrast to the ones under Spitzer and Paterson.
I was impressed with Pataki when he spoke about his two sons who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has some skin in the game. That said, time to go back to the retirement home George.
What about the Libby factor? She seemed to have a paid position with every company that did business with NYS.
Thanks for that info. re: Pataki.
I love New York and vacationed there for about 15 years——upstate and Sag Harbor.
My son lived in Nassau County for 21 years.
We all love the city.
The only thing we don’t like is The Yankees.:-)
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Wow. Thanks for an interesting anecdote.
Thank you for the info on Pataki. I knew that he had been govenor of New York, but not of his record, which matches what I want in a conservative Republican.