ALBANY — He’s the “hangover-nor” now.
Day One as a private citizen for former Gov. David Paterson began with some New Year’s Eve partying in Manhattan followed by a police ride up to Albany for his successor’s inauguration.
He was lauded during Gov. Cuomo’s speech with a warm thank-you and a standing ovation.
Known for liking the night life as well as political combat, Paterson said he rang in the new year with pals and “got right home and got to sleep so that I could be on the road at 7 a.m. to be here on time.”
He said that he did not ask to keep his security detail and that such a decision would be up to the state police superintendent.
A state source said the police detail for the former governor comes to an end today.
As Cuomo was confronted by reporters on the first floor of the Capitol, Paterson walked down the large Gothic Senate staircase with a single plainclothes trooper and passed quietly behind the group unnoticed.
He walked out the door, got in a black SUV that drove away.