Paterson offered job to key Senate Dem
-
- June
- 23
In a stunning political move, a North County Democratic senator today confirmed that Gov. David Paterson has offered him a state job that would have more than doubled his salary – and cleared the way for Republicans to regain his highly coveted seat.
Sen. Darryl Aubertine of Watertown said the governor’s top aide, Charles O’Byrne, offered him the post of chairman of the state Power Authority last week. He turned it down, however.
“I was flattered to be considered for a post like that,’’ Aubertine said today. “But I did make a commitment to the people of the 48th District to serve in the Senate.’’
The move took New York political observers by surprise because Democrats and Republicans are in the midst of a furious campaign for control of the Senate, where Republicans now hold a 32-30 advantage.
The move by Paterson signaled to some an attempt to curry favor with the state’s top Republican, Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
Sen. Darryl Aubertine of Watertown said the governor’s top aide, Charles O’Byrne, offered him the post of chairman of the state Power Authority last week. He turned it down, however.
“I was flattered to be considered for a post like that,’’ Aubertine said today. “But I did make a commitment to the people of the 48th District to serve in the Senate.’’
The move took New York political observers by surprise because Democrats and Republicans are in the midst of a furious campaign for control of the Senate, where Republicans now hold a 32-30 advantage.
The move by Paterson signaled to some an attempt to curry favor with the state’s top Republican, Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
This entry was posted
on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm by Jay Gallagher.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: | 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Advertisement
Jay Gallagher has covered Albany for Gannett News Service since 1984 and has been Albany Bureau chief since 1989. He`s a native of the Boston area and likes to point out that in this millennium, the score is Red Sox 1 championship, the Yankees 0. 
Cara Matthews has been a statehouse correspondent in the Albany Bureau since August 2005. Prior to that, she covered Putnam County government and politics at The Journal News for nearly five years. Before that, she worked at newspapers in Connecticut and covered the state Legislature for one of them. 
