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New York
Gov. Eliot Spitzer
- January 1, 2007 - March 17, 2008
- Democratic
- June 10, 1959
- New York
- Princeton University and Harvard Law School
- Married Silda Spitzer; three children
- Resigned
About
Eliot Spitzer was born on June 10, 1959, in the Bronx. He received his undergraduate degree from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. After law school, he clerked for U.S. District Judge Hon. Robert W. Sweet.
After serving as a clerk,Spitzer became an Assistant DA in New York, quickly rising to the position of Chief of the Labor and Racketeering Unit. Later, after a few years working in private practice, Spitzer returned to public service in 1998 by becoming the Attorney General of New York. In eight years as Attorney General, he became a national figure for his landmark cases to protect investors, consumers, low-wage workers and the environment.
Spitzer was inaugurated as New York’s 54th Governor on January 1, 2007. In his first year, he enacted the significant education reform; reduced property taxes for middle-class New Yorkers; and enacted health care reform to cover all children. Governor Spitzer particularly focused on revitalizing New York’s economy and advancing an agenda for economic growth and opportunity. He reformed regulations to save businesses over $1 billion, making both Upstate and Downstate New York more competitive, and broke gridlock on key infrastructure and economic development projects, including the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site.
Spitzer resigned from office March 17, 2008.
Governor Spitzer and his wife Silda have three daughters.