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What's an un-elected chief to do?

Paterson's State of the State speech made the crisis clear, but he faces many obstacles to success

January 8, 2009 By JEFFREY STONECASH Jeffrey Stonecash teaches political science in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He is co-editor of "Governing New York State."

Gov. David Paterson does not face an easy situation as 2009 begins. His challenges are multiple, encompassing both long-standing and immediate problems in governing New York State, as well as institutional pressures made especially difficult by the way in which he came into office.

He is an un-elected governor. He can claim no campaign connection with voters nor any electoral mandate that...

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