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If Paterson Has To Resign, Article IV, Section 6 under The Executive. The succession of power according to the New York State Constitution.

It reads to me as… Now that Spitzer is gone, Paterson steps in and Bruno is acting LT Gov and that position will not be filled. Now if Paterson has to resign in disgrace as Spitzer did, Bruno would be interim Governor for 3 months until the results of a special election are finalized.

If this happens I nominate Rudy Giuliani and Tom Suozzi to run to complete the term. I personally thing AG Cuomo should be doing his own investigation into these matters right now and he should not even consider running for Governor at this time. We all know he wants to be the top dog, but now is not the time.

New York State Senate >> Constitution

§ 5. In case of the removal of the governor from office or of his or her death or resignation, the lieutenant-governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term. In case the governor-elect shall decline to serve or shall die, the lieutenant-governor-elect shall become governor for the full term. In case the governor is impeached, is absent from the state or is otherwise unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor, the lieutenant-governor shall act as governor until the inability shall cease or until the term of the governor shall expire. In case of the failure of the governor-elect to take the oath of office at the commencement of his or her term, the lieutenant-governor-elect shall act as governor until the governor shall take the oath.

§ 6. The lieutenant-governor shall possess the same qualifications of eligibility for office as the governor. The lieutenant-governor shall be the president of the senate but shall have only a casting vote therein. The lieutenant-governor shall receive for his or her services an annual salary to be fixed by joint resolution of the senate and assembly.

In case of vacancy in the offices of both governor and lieutenant-governor, a governor and lieutenant-governor shall be elected for the remainder of the term at the next general election happening not less than three months after both offices shall have become vacant.

No election of a lieutenant-governor shall be had in any event except at the time of electing a governor. In case of vacancy in the offices of both governor and lieutenant-governor or if both of them shall be impeached, absent from the state or otherwise unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor, the temporary president of the senate shall act as governor until the inability shall cease or until a governor shall be elected.

In case of vacancy in the office of lieutenant-governor alone, or if the lieutenant-governor shall be impeached, absent from the state or otherwise unable to discharge the duties of office, the temporary president of the senate shall perform all the duties of lieutenant-governor during such vacancy or inability.

If, when the duty of acting as governor devolves upon the temporary president of the senate, there be a vacancy in such office or the temporary president of the senate shall be absent from the state or otherwise unable to discharge the duties of governor, the speaker of the assembly shall act as governor during such vacancy or inability. The legislature may provide for the devolution of the duty of acting as governor in any case not provided for in this article.