Paterson Brings Back Longtime Chief of Staff for 2010 Campaign

New York, NY —

As he faces dropping poll numbers, Governor Paterson is bringing back his longtime chief-of-staff and friend who resigned in October amid a scandal over unpaid taxes. Paterson says Charles O'Byrne will work as an unpaid adviser in a leadership position for his 2010 election campaign, which is already under way. O'Byrne helped Paterson rise from a state senator in the minority Democratic conference to get elected to lieutenant governor in 2006. O'Byrne stepped down in October after it was disclosed in press reports that he paid down more than $200,000 in back taxes from prior years.

Governor Paterson is spending the weekend in Washington at the three-day winter meeting of the National Governors Association. Members are focusing on the need for infrastructure improvement, which is expected to absorb much of the federal stimulus funding directed to states.