Ravitch Won’t Preside Until Court Dispute Is Settled
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- July
- 9
In a move that may set back any resolution in the Senate, Gov. David Paterson said at a news conference today to introduce Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor that Ravitch won’t preside over the Senate until the legal disputes are resolved.
“With respect to the other parties who have brought an injunction, we’re not going to try to engage in flaunting an appointment,” Paterson said at the news conference.
The governor’s office said they will appeal the temporary restraining order filed by the GOP in state Supreme Court in Nassau County on two grounds: The case shouldn’t have been filed there and instead should have been filed in Albany, and also that the order is moot because Ravitch was sworn in before the order was filed.
Paterson defended the secret swearing in last night, saying that they had planned for a public ceremony today and that it’s commonplace for the actual swearing in to be done privately—saying it was done that way when he was sworn in as LG in 2007.
Ravitch, who said he didn’t have a compelling reason to not accept the governor’s appointment, said he wanted to be clear that “under no circumstances will I ever be a candidate for elective office in 2010 or any time there after.”
He said he took the position, “totally to help the governor in what I know is a very sincere and serious effort to make sure that the state of New York gets through the enormity of this economic crisis that this country and this state faces.”
Ravitch won’t accept the $151,500 salary for the position. Paterson spokesman Peter Kauffmann said Ravitch was the only person Paterson asked to take the position. He said Ravitch underwent a background check, but it wasn’t clear if it was done by State Police.
Paterson was asked that while he took months to make a selection for U.S. Senate—something he was heavily criticized for—why was he able to act quickly on a candidate for lieutenant governor.
“I learned,” Paterson responded.
It’s unclear what kind of staff Ravitch will have or where the money will come from to pay for it. In the 2009-10 budget, the money for the office—because no one held the seat—was swept back into the general fund.
Ravitch, 76, said he took the position because he believes he and Paterson can navigate the state’s fiscal crisis and also the Senate leadership fight.
“If I didn’t have that conviction that somehow the governor perhaps with my help can get this system functioning so people will make the decisions that have to be made, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” he said.
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on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 12:55 pm by Joseph Spector.
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A secret swearing in and “oath” of office. The follies expand. “Do you swear to to the right thing, as we two will jointly decide as to what is the right thing?” “Of course I do, Governor.” “Good, that’s all I wanted to hear.”