EDITORIAL: Court to Paterson: No on lieutenant governor
At least one branch of New York State government has its head screwed on right.
Yesterday's unanimous ruling by the Appellate Division in Brooklyn rejected Gov. David A. Paterson's irresponsible attempt to rewrite the state's constitution by appointing Richard Ravitch as his lieutenant governor. The court told the unelected governor that the vacant position can only be held by someone elected to the office.
Paterson gave Ravitch the job on July 8 during the deadlock over which party controlled the State Senate. At the time, Sen. Pedro Espada (D-Bronx), the key player in that drama, was the Senate's president and next in line to be governor if something happened to Paterson. While the thought of Espada's proximity to the governorship understandably provokes irrational thoughts, the Senate mess didn't magically give the governor authority to appoint a successor. Paterson's alternative legal argument - that he needs Ravitch to help him run the state during difficult economic times - says more about his shortcomings than his leadership.
The appellate judges set an expedited path to the Court of Appeals, and Paterson should take his case there - even if it means another embarrassing loss. If the top court agrees that an election is the only way to fill a vacancy, the state will have a needed blessing for the next step: amending the constitution with clear and specific details on how and when a special election is to take place. Otherwise, New York can come dangerously to being a Banana Republic. hN
