On the beaten path

The story stems from the 1998 election, when Spitzer was running for attorney general.

At the time, then-Plattsburgh Mayor Clyde Rabideau was running for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket, and I was covering his bid.

I traveled across the state with Rabideau on various occasions as he attended party functions and campaign events.

We often bumped into Spitzer, who was also on the campaign trail, and chatted about the news of the day.

In the brief time I got to know Spitzer, he was incredibly impressive. He talked a mile a minute, and his knowledge covered just about everything, which made him seem more like a regular guy rather than a blow-hard politician.

In one breath he could be ranting about state spending and the next he’d be describing how he cut his foot on one of his young daughter’s toys that was lying around the house.

With a young child of my own at the time, I certainly could relate.

When Spitzer came to Plattsburgh for a brief stop that spring, he met with then-Editor Jim Dynko and myself, and during that meeting he referred to incumbent Republican Attorney General Dennis Vacco as the “Jerry Springer” of law enforcement.

An ironic comment now for sure.

At the time, it was harsh criticism, and papers across the state picked up the story.

A few days later, a Spitzer campaign staffer called me and asked if they could use my story in their campaign brochures.

I said, “Sure, for a case of beer.”

I was kidding but was kind of surprised when the flak excitedly agreed to the deal as if he just got a whale of a bargain.

A few weeks later, at the Democratic Party convention in Rye, Spitzer had the hotel room across the hall from me.

As I was entering my room late one afternoon, he stepped out into the hallway from his room.

When I saw him, I reminded him that he owed me a case of beer. He had no idea of what I was talking about, of course, and joked that it should be a case of scotch instead.

Not minding the upgrade, I agreed wholeheartedly with a wink and a nod.

Spitzer, as we know, went on to get elected attorney general and began his rising political career.

From time to time, he would visit the Press-Republican for Editorial Board meetings and I would always kiddingly remind Marc Violette, Spitzer’s press man, about my expected bounty.

Spitzer would laugh it off when we met, saying was still trying to figure out a way to get my beer.

I was surprised when he remembered again when he was last here a few months ago.

In the wake of all that has happened to the former governor this week, I am willing to forgive his debt and let him keep the brew.

These days, he certainly might benefit from it more than I could.