Brooklyn pol Carl Andrews, a former state senator and one-time confidante of disgraced and convicted Brooklyn Democratic boss Clarence Norman, gets a big new job from Gov. Paterson.
He is named director of intergovernmental affairs, a promotion from the job he had under Spitzer -- director of New York City intergovernmental affairs. He was once described in news accounts as a bagman for Norman in the Brooklyn judgeships-for-sale scandal, but he was never charged with anything and dismissed suggestions of impropriety as "guilt by association" because of his friendship with Norman.
He's been around, working on campaigns for Spitzer, Hillary Clinton and NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson, serving as an aide to Spitzer when he was AG as well as the Senate minority, running a losing race in 2006 for a Brooklyn seat in Congress. He'll make $170,000. Full release after the jump.
Fairly or not: Paterson has brought in Bill Cunningham from Nassau and Suozzi as his counsel. Here comes Andrews from Brooklyn. Paterson and his dad are the Manhattan organization, and Malcolm Smith is the Queens organization. There's a feel here of the Democratic machine unleashed, like it never was under Spitzer, or Cuomo.
Paterson press release:
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he will appoint Carl Andrews to serve as Acting Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Mr. Andrews has extensive experience in state government, as well as legislative and community service. Mr. Andrews was the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the New York City office during the Spitzer Administration. Prior to working in the Executive Chamber Mr. Andrews served in the New York State Senate’s 20th District from 2002 to 2006. During that time he was the Senate Minority Whip. Before he was elected to the Senate, Mr. Andrews served as New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s Director of Intergovernmental Relations.
Mr. Andrews’ years of public service include: serving as Director of New York City Government Operations for the New York State Senate Minority Leader, Special Assistant to the New York State Secretary of State, Community Coordinator for the New York State Department of State’s Division of Economic Development, Director of the New York State Immigrant Legislation Assistance Program, and Assistant Director of the New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus.
In addition, Mr. Andrews was Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000, as well as Campaign Coordinator for New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. in 2001. He has also served as an elected member of the New York State Democratic State Committee.
Mr. Andrews received his B.A. in Political Science from Medgar Evers College and earned a M.A. in African-American Studies from the State University of New York at Albany.
“I want to thank Marty Mack for his service as Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Intergovernmental Affairs,” said Governor Paterson. “His knowledge and insight into all aspects of government served the citizens of New York State well.”