Metro

‘Lt. gov’ war in court

ALBANY — An attorney for Gov. Paterson noted yesterday that other states allow their chief executives to appoint lieutenant governors and told New York’s top court it doesn’t want to make the state the first to block the practice.

Kathleen Sullivan argued before the state Court of Appeals that a provision of state law allows Paterson’s July 8 appointment of Richard Ravitch.

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos has filed a lawsuit challenging Paterson’s authority to make the appointment.

“Every state court that has ever faced a lieutenant governor vacancy with similar statutory or constitutional provisions has held that the governor has that authority,” Sullivan said. They include California, Rhode Island and Florida.

Skelos’ attorney, David Lewis, argued that the high court should rule that the post can be filled only by an election.