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Paterson Taps Bronx Judge To Be New IG

Gov. David Paterson is poised to announce he has selected Bronx state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Fisch to serve as the next state Inspector General, an aide to the governor confirmed.

Fisch and Paterson go back more than two decades. They first met in the Queens DA’s office, where Fisch worked on two separate occasions (1977-1984 and again from 1987 to 1990) and Paterson was a criminal law associate (a post over which there has been some confusion ever since).

According to The Jewish Press, Fisch attended Paterson’s wedding to Michelle Paige, and Paterson “danced the hora” at the wedding of Fisch’s daughter.

“He’s just the definition of a mentch,” Fisch told the paper, which noted that in 2007, the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education – of which Fisch is honorary president – granted Paterson its Man of the Year award.

Fisch has also served as a deputy inspector general and general counsel at the Office of the IG of the MTA and executive director of the Office of Professional Discipline with the state Education Department.

A Harvard Law School grad, Fisch was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2003 (by then Gov. George Pataki) after serving since 1990 on the Court of Claims (appointed by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo). He also serves on the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics.

Fisch’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation. He will earn $155,200 in his new post. He replaces Kristine Hamann, who was appointed by ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer, got emroiled in the Troopergate scandal and resigned earlier this month.

SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com Read more..

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 Bronx Dems Raise Money For Senate Takeover

Bronx Democratic Chairman Jose Rivera is hosting a “Take Back the Senate” fundraiser next Friday at the Seashore Restaurant, a $400-a-head event at which both Gov. David Paterson and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith will be “distinguished guests.”

I believe this is the first such event that Paterson will attend since his March 17 swearing in.

Given the tenuousness of the situation at the Capitol (budget deadlines, scandals etc.) the new governor has studiously avoided discussing whether he will pursue a Democratic majority in the Senate as aggressively as his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer.

The budget should be done by next Friday, but the legislative session won’t be over. Nevertheless, Paterson evidently feels it should be safe by then to attend an event that might upset the delicate balance of his relationship with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

Spitzer, of course, made ousting the Senate Republicans from power a priority in 2006 when he campaigned on behalf of Democratic candidates, and then continued that quest once he took office (7th and 48th SD special elections, Troopergate etc.) at the expense of his legislative and reform agendas.

When questioned on this topic, Paterson has repeatedly noted that during his tenure as minority leader he took four seats from the Republicans - three in one year (2004) - and brought the Democrats within spitting distance of taking over the chamber, while also maintaining his cordial relationship with Bruno.

SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com

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