ALBANY — Former Gov. David Paterson is stepping down as chair of the state Democratic Party after the elections next month, he announced Wednesday.
Paterson assumed the post less than 18 months ago.
No reason was given for the abrupt departure except that Paterson planned to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
“I particularly enjoyed working so closely with Gov. Cuomo in the run-up to his re-election last year,” Paterson said.
“The governor has been a strong champion for our party’s shared ideals and I have been proud to answer his call to serve as chair of the party.”
Cuomo returned the praise, saying Paterson had steered Democrats around some major hurdles — including “the worst economic crisis we have seen since the Great Depression” — when he was lieutenant governor and took over when then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer was caught in a hooker scandal in 2008.
Paterson served until 2010.