Paterson sworn in as New York governor

Vows to restore unity and trust after scandal

ALBANY, N.Y. - Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson ascended to New York's highest office yesterday, pledging civility and unity in government to an enthusiastic and palpably relieved gathering of state lawmakers and officials.

Paterson was sworn in as the state's 55th governor shortly after 1 p.m., almost exactly a week after reports that his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, had been a customer of a prostitution ring and faced federal investigation.

In a speech lasting about half an hour, Paterson offered fond wisecracks and soothing oratory to an audience that clearly ached to move beyond what has been an unusually sordid ordeal even for Albany, a capital well acquainted with political scandal.

Speaking to a joint session of the state Assembly and the Senate, Paterson alluded briefly to Spitzer's difficulties over the past year in working with the Democratic-controlled Assembly and Republican-controlled Senate.

"What we are going to do from now on is what we always should have done: We are going to work together," said Paterson, 53, a Democrat from Harlem. "With conviction in our brains and compassion in our hearts and the love for New York on our sleeves, we will dedicate ourselves to principle but always maintain the ability to listen."

But Paterson's remarks were most striking for what was absent from them.

There was no indication that Paterson intended to adopt as his own Spitzer's high-profile crusade to change the culture of Albany. Despite hints last week that continuity would be a key theme of the transition, there were few signs yesterday of what agenda Paterson might pursue as the state's chief executive, and aides said he will begin to lay out his plans in the coming days and weeks.

Unlike Spitzer, who fired shot after shot across the bow of Albany's political establishment in his inaugural address less than 15 months ago, Paterson warmly embraced the capital's two other major powers: the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, and the Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno.

"Let us grab the unusual opportunities that circumstance has handed us today and put personal politics, party advantage, and power struggles aside, in favor of service, in the interests of the people," said Paterson, who served in the state Senate more than 20 years.

New York's two US senators - Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Clinton - were in attendance, along with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and former governors Hugh L. Carey and George E. Pataki. Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut also attended.

In a speech with so many nods to other elected officials that even a former lieutenant governor made the cut, Paterson made no mention of Spitzer, who plucked him from relative obscurity to join the ticket in 2006.

Paterson alluded only vaguely to Spitzer's resignation, noting that New York had experienced "a very difficult week."

So constant were the cheers throughout the new governor's time in the chamber that the audience even interrupted him with thunderous applause in the middle of his oath of office.

Only when his speech turned to the worsening economic downturn and its likely effect on the state budget gap did Paterson signal a challenge to the Legislature or to Albany's ranks of lobbyists and interest groups.

"We are looking at an economy that is reeling, and I must say to all of you in government and all of you in business that you must meet with me in the next couple of weeks and adjust our budget accordingly," Paterson said, suggesting that budget austerity would be needed.

Paterson, New York's first blind governor and its first African-American one, also nodded to the historic nature of his swearing-in.

"I have confronted the prejudice of race, and challenged the issues of my own disability," he said. "I have served in government for over two decades. I stand willing and able to lead this state to a brighter future and a better tomorrow."

His wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, had tears in her eyes for most of the ceremony.