Paterson Tries to Stop the Bleeding with Another Staff Exit

Billy Parker

Published Feb 14, 2009

Modified Feb 14, 2009

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Billy Parker

Published Feb 14, 2009

Modified Feb 14, 2009

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Governor Paterson continued trying to get his administration back on the right track with the resignation of his communications director, Risa Heller. A statement from Paterson first said that her resignation was of her own choosing, but implied otherwise when talking to reporters. He said, "There was never any real transition team for me. I just pretty much inherited a number of, obviously, employees and assistants from the previous administration and never had a chance to evaluate them for myself." Both the governor and his staff have been under the microscope and widely criticized ever since the Senate appointment process began with much speculation that their is poor communication if not turmoil within. Paterson told reporters, “We really imposed a little bit on Risa from the very beginning, because it was a new administration and I had to find someone in a day, and fortunately I have a little more time in this instance,” PolitickerNY says that the governor then alluded to what a whirlwind of a year, citing everything "from the worsening fiscal crisis to the election of Barack Obama - and how only now he has been able to think about staffing."

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Billy Parker

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