Syracuse, NY – Governor George Pataki came under fire in Sunday's second gubernatorial debate as Democratic challenger H. Carl McCall and Independence Party B. Thomas Golisano sought to link him to scandals.
McCall, the state comptroller, said that Pataki's idea of economic development "is to provide contracts to relatives." He was referring to an architect, who is a relative by marriage of the governor's wife, who got a lucrative State University of New York contract. Pataki denied any wrongdoing.
Later, Golisano attacked Pataki over a scandal involving state Parole Board officials. That investigation stemmed from allegations that a fund-raiser for Pataki's successful 1994 campaign offered potential contributors parole for relatives in return for donations. Pataki and his top aides denied knowledge of the alleged scheme.
The grim-faced Pataki responded that New Yorkers know that he's upheld the high standards during his seven-and-a-half years as governor.
He said he's proud of the work his administration had done to boost economic development, particularly in struggling upstate New York.