David Alexander Paterson 55th and current Governor of New York State Date of Birth: 20.05.1954 Country: USA

1. Biography of David Peterson
2. Early Life and Education
3. Political Career
4. Political Stances and Personal Life

Biography of David Peterson

David Peterson, the 55th and current governor of the state of New York, shocked the press and voters on the eve of his inauguration by admitting to having had extramarital affairs for two to three years and wanting to tell the story himself before journalists turned it into a scandal. Considering the fact that Peterson became governor because the elected 54th governor of the state, Elliot Spitzer, resigned amidst scandal and accusations of using prostitutes, the electorate's surprise is understandable.

Early Life and Education

David Peterson was born on May 20, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Porcia Peterson, was a homemaker, and his father, Basil Peterson, was a lawyer who later became an influential state politician, senator, and secretary of state. David's maternal ancestors were slaves, while his paternal ancestors included Jamaicans, Africans, and Englishmen. When David was three months old, he suffered a severe ear infection that affected the optic nerve, resulting in complete blindness in his left eye and limited vision in his right eye. However, his parents insisted that he attend a regular school rather than a specialized institution and even bought a house in Hempstead, a suburb of New York City.

David graduated from high school in 1971, Columbia University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in history, and Hofstra University Law School in 1983 with a law degree. Despite his blindness, he joined the Queens District Attorney's Office but failed the bar exams due to time constraints, as he had to listen to questions and dictate answers. Peterson's staff currently sends him documents via voice mail.

Political Career

In 1985, Peterson was elected to the New York State Senate, taking over his father's former position. In 2003, he became the leader of the Democratic Senate minority, and in 2006, Elliot Spitzer, then the New York Attorney General and a Democratic candidate, chose him as his running mate. In November 2006, Spitzer won the election with 69% of the votes, and on January 1, 2007, Peterson assumed the position of lieutenant governor. When Spitzer, who spent thousands of dollars on visits to an elite prostitute, resigned, Peterson took over as governor. On March 17, 2008, he took the oath of office and revealed some secrets from his past, telling a wide audience about his and his wife's mutual infidelity during challenging times in their marriage.

Initially, Peterson planned to run for a second term in the 2010 gubernatorial election. However, on February 26, he announced that he would not participate in the Democratic Party primaries. This decision was influenced by two scandals, which even led to speculation that Peterson might resign prematurely. Nevertheless, he decided to remain in office until the end of his full term. In late 2009, one of his staff members was accused of domestic violence against his girlfriend. She filed a lawsuit, and Peterson, initially through his assistants and later in a personal meeting, persuaded the woman to withdraw the case. He is now accused of pressuring a witness and being an accomplice to domestic violence. The second scandal erupted in March 2010 when the prosecutor's office accused Peterson of abusing his official position. In October 2009, Peterson, his son with a friend, and two subordinates of the governor attended a baseball game without paying $425 for tickets. According to the rules, officials are prohibited from accepting such gifts, and although the governor later paid for the tickets retroactively, this situation received significant public attention.

Political Stances and Personal Life

Throughout his political career, David Peterson actively spoke out against racism, advocated for the abolition of the death penalty in the state, and worked on legalizing same-sex marriage. He is also a supporter of stem cell research. As governor, he had to deal with a significant budget deficit and took unpopular measures such as tax increases.

On November 21, 1992, David Peterson married Michelle Paige Peterson. She is seven years younger than him and works in the healthcare system. They have two children together: a son, Alex, born in February 1994, and a daughter, Ashley, from Michelle's previous marriage, whom Peterson raised as his own.