Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo heads to Albany

As Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo heads to Albany, he’ll be entering a context created by his own family (father Mario Cuomo held the position for over a decade), as well as what people on both sides of the aisle acknowledge is a legislative mess. The public perception of the New York governor’s office has been in flux ever since Eliot Spitzer resigned, after his prostitution scandal. Andrew Cuomo, New York’s attorney general, ran on a reform ticket, pledging that he’d get notoriously-gridlocked Albany back in working order. Can he do it?

Jimmy Vielkind, political reporter for the Albany Times Union and contributor to the Times Union’s blog, Capitol Confidential, says Governor David Paterson is leaving behind a stronger executive office for Cuomo.