CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Mar. 13, 2008: On Monday, March 17th, St. Patricks Day in the U.S., former senator turned New York State Lieutenant Governor, David Paterson will be making history not only in New York, but across the U.S. and the Caribbean region.

Paterson, 53, is set to become not just the states first black and blind governor but the first with roots in the Caribbean. His grandparents on his fathers side were born in Grenada and Jamaica, respectively. His maternal grandfather was Irish according to recent DNA testing arranged by Albany\'s public TV station WMHT. And Paterson is being sworn in on a day the Irish hold sacred.

Paterson`s father, Basil Paterson, the first black secretary of state of the Empire State, was born to Caribbean immigrant parents in Brooklyn in 1926. Basil Paterson graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and went on to earn his bachelor\'s and law degrees are from St. John\'s University.

He soon became  part of the founders of the `Harlem Clubhouse,` which has dominated local politics since the 1960s, along with Congressman Charles Rangel (D-Harlem), former mayor and now SIPA professor David Dinkins, and former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton.

David Paterson was only 11 when his father ran for state senate. But politics continued to be part of the Paterson household as Basil Patterson gave up his senate seat in 1970 to run for lieutenant governor, as the running mate of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg.

The Goldberg/Paterson ticket lost to the Republican ticket of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and Lt. Gov. Malcolm Wilson. In 1978, Paterson was appointed as a Deputy Mayor of New York City by Mayor Ed Koch. He stepped down as deputy mayor in 1979, when he was appointed by Gov. Hugh Carey as New York Secretary of State. He was the first African American to serve as secretary of state in New York history. He served as secretary of state until the end of the Carey Administration in 1983.

David Paterson was also born in Brooklyn, with no sight in his left eye and severely limited vision in his right. His family moved to Hempstead, Long Island, for better public schools. He graduated from Hempstead High School in 1971.

Paterson went on to obtain a BA in history from Columbia University in 1977 and later his law degree from Hofstra Law School.

After law school, he went to work for the Queens District Attorney\'s Office, but failed the New York bar examination, and so did not become an attorney at law.

In 1985, David Paterson joined the campaign staff of David Dinkins for Manhattan Borough President. In October of that year, longtime state Senator Leon Bogues, representing a district covering Manhattan neighborhoods Harlem, Manhattan Valley and the Upper West Side, died and Paterson won a highly competitive New York County Democratic Party Committee selection process to serve the rest of Bogues\' term.

It was also historic for the young Paterson then, becoming the youngest senator in Albany in 1985 at age 35. The following year, 1986, he won the seat for his first full term representing the 29th District in the New York State Senate.

Paterson was elected Senate Minority Leader in 2002, becoming both the first non-white state legislative leader and the highest-ranking black elected official in the history of New York State.

Among his most controversial bill was one that called for non-citizens to be allowed to vote in local elections in New York.

In 2006, he ran with Spitzer. The ticket won a landslide victory in the election with 69 percent of the votes. Two years later, the history-making politician is making history again, rising to a post he never thought hes occupy and was instead set to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton if she had won the Presidency.
 
But all that has changed following a shocking sex scandal that has forced the incumbent governor, Eliot Spitzer, to resign yesterday, effective Monday, paving the way for Paterson`s swearing in.

Yesterday, his only comment were more of concern for the Spitzer family as they grappled with a huge personal crisis and the states lawmakers pushed for a return to business.

"Like all New Yorkers I am saddened by what we have learned over the past several days,` stated Paterson. `My heart goes out to him and to his family at this difficult and painful time. I ask all New Yorkers to join Michelle and me in prayer for them.`

But the quiet, yet forceful politician, who has served as the more affable side kick to Spitzer and a buffer between those he riled in Albany with his tough handed governance, added quickly, `It is now time for Albany to get back to work as the people of this state expect from us.` - CaribWorldNews.com