Published: March 29, 2008 11:48 pm            

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Face time with Dan Gundersen

Niagara Falls — This intrepid reporter nearly got trampled this week by Gov. David Paterson’s security guys who apparently had zero tolerance for one-on-one questions with the big man himself.

Although Paterson’s people whisked him away to a nearby bar before I could get in a question about development plans in Niagara County, Dan Gundersen, the state’s Upstate Economic Development director, proved far more approachable and informative.

While Paterson and other big shots were meeting privately inside WJ Morrissey’s Irish Pub in Buffalo’s Cobblestone District following a press conference Thursday, Gundersen graciously waited outside, fielding additional questions about plans to revitalize upstate.

He even addressed rumors that he may be looking for another gig — possibly something similar in another state — in light of his former boss Eliot Spitzer’s, er, indiscretions.

“There are options out there, but my passion and commitment has been to a cause and that cause is the revitalization of upstate,” Gundersen said.

That should be viewed as good news for Niagara County and Niagara Falls in particular where Gundersen has just been named chairman of the state-run USA Niagara Development Corp.

Funny guy, that Paterson

It’s safe to say that Paterson doesn’t take himself as seriously as perhaps his predecessor did.

During a recent stop in Buffalo, after Mayor Byron Brown interrupted to remind him that Erie County Executive Chris Collins was still waiting to speak, the visually impaired Paterson quipped: “I know about the county executive, mayor. It’s right here in my notes.”

        

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