And, his legacy will be one of turning the state's economy around, consecutive years of whopping budget surpluses, and attaining New York's best credit rating in a generation. Some have wondered why Pataki would risk losing, especially since he seems bored with the governor's job. After all, you are more likely to experience an Elvis sighting in Burger King than you are a George Pataki sighting in Albany. And now, with Treadwell and Cahill at Pataki's side, some are also saying the governor can't win by surrounding himself with nice guys. He needs a pit bull, they say.
Nice guys finish last.
Well, don't be so sure. Both Cahill and Treadwell, despite their genteel demeanors, have experienced a fair share of success on their own. When Cahill took over at the DEC, the state agency was in disarray. Cahill not only restored that credibility, he was instrumental in improving relations between the administration and New York's environmental lobby, an influential and powerful voting bloc. In a liberal state like New York, that can only help the governor in 2002.