Paterson becomes 55th governor of New York

NEW YORK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- David Paterson was sworn in Monday as New York's first black governor following Eliot Spitzer's abrupt resignation amid a prostitution scandal.

Democrat Paterson, who is legally blind, became the state's 55th governor after succeeding Spitzer, who resigned an hour earlier after being implicated in a high-priced call girl investigation.

In a 12-minute inaugural address, he warned "our economy appears to be headed toward crisis," but also called for a bipartisan spirit of unity and hope.

In 1985, Paterson was elected to represent Harlem in New York's state senate, working his way up to minority leader in 2002, where he has introduced legislation on stem cell research, alternative energy and domestic violence.

The 53 year-old Paterson graduated from Columbia University and Hofstra School of Law and traces his political lineage to a New York City power base for Democrats.

He becomes the nation's first legally blind governor to serve more than a few days. Bob Riley was governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975 following Dale Bumpers' election to the U.S. Senate.