By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Producer

Posted March 12, 2008 – With today’s resignation of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), the Empire State will swear in its first African-American governor to fill the top executive spot and lead one of the country’s largest state governments.

Spitzer, told a packed room of reporters, “I’m deeply sorry I did not live up to what was expected of me, to every New Yorker and to those who believed in what I stand for, I apologies.”

David Paterson, from Harlem, is a seasoned politician who is well liked and respected among his peers.  Emile Milan, in Rep. Charles Rangel’s office told me, “He can bring people together and he’s got a great sense of humor.”

Paterson, 53, was born legally blind, he first made history in 2006 as the state’s first African-American lieutenant governor.

Pressure for Spitzer’s resignation had been mounting since the first reports of his alledged involvement in an exclusive prostitution ring.  Yesterday Spitzer and Paterson staffers started holding transition meetings.  Spitzer said today, at Paterson’s request for an “orderly transition” his resignation would not take affective until Monday, March 17. 

Paterson is no stranger to the state capitol. He follows his father Basil Paterson, a longtime political leader in state and New York City politics.

Paterson’s father was a trailblazer in New York’s political history. He served in the 1960’s as a state senator; ran in 1970 for lieutenant governor with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg (the ticket lost to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller); and in1978 was appointed as a Deputy Mayor of New York City by Mayor Ed Koch, a post he left  to serve as New York’s Secretary of State.

Now some 30 years later, his son David, will make this historic move.  Following Spitzer’s brief press conference, Paterson released a statement saying, “Like all New Yorkers I am sadden by what we have learned over the past several days.”  

“My heart goes out to him and to his family at this difficult and painful time. Its now time for Albany to get back to work as the people of this state expect from us,” he wrote.

State senate minority leader, Malcomb Smith, spoke with Paterson this morning.  Smith told CNN, “We talked about what going forward looked like - he’s prepared.” 

Paterson is married to Michelle and the father of two children, Ashley and Alex.