April 25, 2002

At campaign-season pace, Gov. George Pataki swung through four events in four hours in the Syracuse area and headed back to Albany for more budget talks late Wednesday evening.

"For the first time, I think we're all in agreement as to the real financial constraints facing the state," he said about budget meetings held earlier that day with state Senate and Assembly staffers. "We met most of the day today and we're going to be meeting again tonight."

Pataki called Wednesday's talks "real progress," but also said there is no time frame for settling on a budget. The deadline passed April 1.

Pataki has not yet announced his plan to run for a third term. But his talks at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park and an Independence Party fund-raiser sounded like campaign stump speeches.

Pataki also attended a private, $500-per-person reception for state Sen. Nancy Larraine Hoffmann at the Everson Museum of Art.

At the public events, Pataki told his audiences about his efforts to cut taxes, reduce workers compensation costs, create low-tax business zones and link universities and industries. He picked up the endorsement of the Business and Industry Political Action Committee, MACNY's political arm, and won praise from some Independence Party leaders, who will designate a gubernatorial candidate at a May 18 convention.

"Pataki is enormously popular with the party," state Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay said, adding he will remain neutral until the party designates a candidate.

Also in the crowd at the party's $99-per-person fund-raiser was Rochester businessman B. Thomas Golisano, who said he is leaning toward challenging Pataki in November.

campaign for governor put the Independence Party on the ballot in New York state and his 1998 campaign boosted the party to the coveted third spot on the ballot. Some party leaders say, however, that a Pataki endorsement offers the best chance at keeping that spot.

Pataki did not mention his potential Democratic opponents, former federal housing secretary Andrew Cuomo and state Comptroller H. Carl McCall. He also did not respond to their recent criticism that he stood in New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's shadow in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Pataki made many references to Sept. 11, however, in discussing everything from the state's budget deficit to the resolve of its residents.

In the comment that came closest to a re-election campaign announcement, he said that, after Sept. 11 and the economic downturn, he and his wife took a look around and said, "When you're halfway through the job, are you going to stop?"

Pataki spent some of his time in Syracuse celebrating and announcing the good news of others.

But company officials said that's not quite accurate.

Welch Allyn continues to manufacture its medical products at its North Carolina plant. The company has moved manufacturing of handheld computer terminals made for its Hand Held Products affiliate to Skaneateles, adding five jobs. Hand Held Products employs 380 in Central New York. Staff writer Charley Hannagan contributed to this report