Thursday, March 13, 2008

(Soon to be) Governor Patterson is a Brother Freemason

I know, I know, political talk is forbidden within the Masonic Lodge, but this is not the Lodge and I am just reporting a news item.

Unless you've been living completely off the grid, you have heard of the scandal involving the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer. Here in New York, it has been the top news story all week (even bigger than Billy Crystal playing for the Yankees or Syracuse University's poor basketball showing). Anyway, I digress...

Spitzer has resigned and the Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson will be sworn in as the new Governor of New York on St. Patrick's day, March 17th. In addition, to being the first African-American and the first legally blind Governor of the State of New York, Mr. Patterson is also a Brother Freemason. I would like to thank Brother Chris Hodapp for breaking this new item for us over at his "Freemasons for Dummies" blog. How he stays on top of all that is beyond me, but I am grateful for his hard work.

Brother Patterson's bio from the Lt. Governor's page of the NYS website:

David A. Paterson was elected New York’s lieutenant governor on November 7, 2006.

Elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate in 1985, David Paterson has demanded and achieved change at every level, not simply by what he stands for but by who he is.

In 2002, David Paterson was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history. In 2004 in Boston, he became the first visually impaired person to address a Democratic National Convention. And 2006 saw Mr. Paterson make history again by being elected New York’s first African-American lieutenant governor.

As New York State Senate minority leader, David Paterson led the charge on several crucial issues for New York’s future, proposing legislation for a $1 billion voter-approved stem cell research initiative, demanding a statewide alternative energy strategy, insisting on strong action to fight against domestic violence, and serving as the primary champion for minority- and women-owned businesses in New York. As a result, Governor Spitzer asked Mr. Paterson to continue to lead New York State on these issues as lieutenant governor.

Lt. Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, is also nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the visually and physically impaired. A graduate of Columbia University and Hofstra Law School, Mr. Paterson also currently serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia’s School for International and Public Affairs. David Paterson lives in Harlem with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Ashley and Alex, and he is the son of Basil Paterson, the first non-white secretary of state of New York and the first African-American vice-chair of the national Democratic Party.


Brother Patterson belongs to Boyer Lodge No. 1, of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York.

Good luck Brother Patterson!!!