New York state’s Attorney General Andrew Cuomo accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor today, pledging to change the culture of government in Albany.
Pledging to "restore public trust in government," Cuomo told delegates "New York State is in crisis and it's time this Democratic Party stood up and made this state the Empire State again."
Cuomo also introduced Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy, his pick for the lieutenant governor post.
Duffy, 55, is just beginning his second term as mayor, where he is pushing for mayoral control of city schools. Duffy is a former police officer and chief of Rochester's police force.
Cuomo's nomination was widely expected and came at the end of the Democrats three-day convention. He again pledged a cap on property taxes, an independent commission to redraw legislative and congressional boundary lines should he be elected. He has also proposed a $3,000 per worker tax credit to encourage businesses to hire new employees.
Cuomo’s was introduced by BillThompson, the former New York City comptroller who narrowly lost to Mayor Bloomberg in last year's mayoral election.
New York faces a $9.2 billion deficit and has failed to enact a state budget since the April 1 deadline. Referring to the budget deadlock, Cuomo said "state government that was supposed to be part of the solution became part of the problem."
Cuomo's Republican foe in the race for governor, Rich Lazio, said in a statement "Andrew Cuomo, a man who has been consumed with power and part of the problem with Albany for over 30 years, the Democratic establishment has sent a clear message to New Yorkers that they prefer the failed policies of the past over the fundamental change we deserve."
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