Cornell Hosts N.Y. Gubernatorial Debate

All eyes were on Ithaca as the two leading candidates for governor of New York fielded questions from a media panel during a spirited debate aired on live TV across the state.

Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer and former State Assemblyman John J. Faso spelled out what they felt was wrong with New York and the directions they planned to take the state as governor.

Spitzer, who had recently defeated Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi in the Democratic Party primary to claim his party’s nomination, led Faso by more than 50 percent at the time, according to a recent Siena Research Institute poll.

“The status quo is not behind me; it’s in front of me, and I’ve got dead aim at it,” Spitzer said.

In response to one of the most biting questions of the evening, which came in the extra time at the end of the debate, Faso criticized Spitzer for endorsing the re-election of State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, one of Spitzer’s Democratic allies. It was later found that Hevesi illegally let his wife use a state worker as a chauffeur for more than three years; Hevesi offered to pay the state more than $82,000 for the services.

“[Hevesi is] an honest, stupendous public servant … What Alan did was wrong; he has apologized; he has paid back,” Spitzer said.

Spitzer mentioned improving economic development — hiring the most qualified people, leveraging intellectual capital and cutting property taxes — focusing on the middle class, and making sure all children have health insurance as some of his top priorities.

Faso also said that young people are leaving New York to take jobs elsewhere. His platform was centered on tax cuts, decreased spending and drawing more businesses to the state.

Spitzer went on to win the election and served as governor until he was caught up in a prostitution scandal in March and resigned.