The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), March 13, 2008, Thursday

Copyright 2008 Post-Standard

All Rights Reserved

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

March 13, 2008, Thursday

FINAL EDITION

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A6

HEADLINE: VOICES AND VIEWPOINTS

BYLINE: Compiled by staff writers Glenn Coin, John Doherty, Tim Knauss, John Mariani, Maureen Nolan, Scott Rapp, Meghan Rubado and Laura Ryan.

BODY:

Concerns about SUNY

"I personally worry that having a new governor and the likelihood of much more political uncertainty in the state will make it more difficult for SUNY to attract a strong leader as chancellor," said Ronald Ehrenberg , an expert in higher education.

Ehrenberg noted the state university formed a search committee in January to look for a successor to Chancellor John Ryan, who stepped down in May.

"When (Gov. Eliot) Spitzer was elected with an overwhelming mandate, there was a strong likelihood that he would be in office for at least eight years and, given the quality of his initial appointments to the SUNY board, I had hoped that the conditions were in place to attract the type of leader that SUNY badly needs," Ehrenberg said.

Ehrenberg is director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute, a trustee at Cornell University, a professor of industrial and labor relations and economics and the author of several books about higher education.

Focus on renewable energy

As lieutenant governor, David Paterson automatically became a trustee of the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse.

Cornelius "Neil" Murphy Jr. , president of the college, said Paterson is familiar with the school and with its efforts to develop new technologies and businesses in the field of renewable energy.

Murphy said Paterson's ascension to governor "may accelerate" the state's push to develop renewable energy and green technologies. During the past year, Paterson has chaired a state Renewable Energy Task Force.

"I think it's an area where he's going to put emphasis," Murphy said.

Politicians' sullied image

When Vicki Baker , a member of the DeWitt Town Board, told her mom she was going into politics, her mom said: "Oh honey, don't do that, that's a dirty game."

"And I said, "Somebody has got to be our leaders, and not everybody is dirty,"' Baker said.

But she said the public perceives politicians as crooked, and Spitzer's behavior will have an impact on every elected official from DeWitt to California.

"Now, we'll all have to work twice as hard," Baker said.

Disappointing

"It is disappointing when someone falls so far short of our expectations and their potential. It is a very sad day, but I am confident that our party will move forward toward a brighter future ... " said Diane Dwire , chair of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee. "I wholeheartedly support Gov. Paterson and have confidence that by working together we can reach our common goals."

Spitzer as lone wolf

Former Onondaga County Democratic Committee Chairman Robert Romeo said he got to know Spitzer fairly well over the past 12 years. They met when Spitzer ran for attorney general the first time, and they spent time together in Syracuse and New York City over the years.

Romeo, a lawyer who serves as a member of the Syracuse Downtown Committee board, said he always extended the offer of friendship to Spitzer. However, it was something Spitzer never seemed to take. Spitzer had a few close advisers but didn't seem to have personal friends, Romeo said.

"He operated in a circle of one," he said. "He was in his own little world."

Romeo figures Spitzer will, in time, find his way back to public service.

"I think he'll find a way to work for the common good - not in politics, but maybe he'll start a nonprofit. I think he really deeply cares about people," he said.

Auburn budget uncertainty

The resignation is making it difficult for Auburn Comptroller Lisa Green to help put together the city's proposed budget for 2008-09. The city is expecting a 7 percent increase in state aid, but the city could receive a different amount because of Spitzer's resignation, she said.

If the city gets less than the expected $5.2 million in state aid, it would probably have to raise property taxes or cut services, said Green.

She met Spitzer on his visit to Auburn last month and said his pay-for-sex scandal shocked her and left her feeling jaded toward public officials.

"It certainly casts a bad light on all politicians, and it makes you wonder," she said.

Promises on tax collections

David Vickers , president of Upstate Citizens for Equality, had pushed Spitzer to keep campaign promises to collect millions of dollars in sales taxes on cigarettes and gasoline sold at businesses owned by Indians.

"Now, we don't have that to be able to fall back on, and we have to make an appeal (to Paterson) rather than forcing (Spitzer) to honor his promise," Vickers said. "Paterson is a creature of the political system in New York. I don't see him deviating from the status quo, especially when it comes to collecting taxes from Indian tribes."

Just "a distraction"

Spitzer's resignation will have no effect on the day-to-day life in Fulton, said Mayor Ronald Woodward Sr.

"It's a distraction," said Woodward, at the end of a noon meeting with city department heads. "People are talking about it."

Woodward, a Republican, said he never met Spitzer.

Now that Spitzer has announced his resignation, Woodward said he hopes state legislators and the new governor will turn their attention to the pending state budget.

"I'm glad it was settled quickly," Woodward said. "Now they can get on with the budget in Albany. So many things that we rely on are tied in with the state budget."

A meeting that will never happen

Spitzer's resignation rippled down to the Sunnycrest Park Association.

Association President Mike Behnke said he bumped into Spitzer last month at the Steak & Sunday Restaurant, collected an autograph and connected with staffer Dan Young .

The association wanted to pitch for a piece of Spitzer's Upstate revitalization money to build a field house and to expand the Sunnycrest ice rink. It set up a meeting March 20 with Young that Behnke hoped would be a prelude to a meeting with the governor.

Behnke remembers thinking when he met Spitzer that he'd never encountered George Pataki in his years as governor.

"And here I run into Spitzer, and it seems like you can get to see him," Behnke said.

That's a moot point now, he added.

"It's a shame, just such a shame," he said.

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