Mario Cuomo’s Hometown

I first met Mario Cuomo nearly four decades ago when I was a state senator representing northern Manhattan and he was considering a campaign for mayor of New York City. One could sense immediately his strength of character. His passion to both do good and do right were obvious from the very beginning.

He lost that election but was soon in Albany as lieutenant governor, and that’s when I developed an enduring partnership and friendship with him. We ran together in 1982, as he battled Ed Koch for the Democratic nomination for governor and I sought the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor. Though I did not win my campaign, I was able to work with and for Gov. Mario Cuomo in a number of capacities during his first two terms. He was always principled, cerebral, honest and above reproach.

Mario Cuomo was a champion for diversity and civil rights, and his devotion to the plight of the less fortunate brought important societal issues to the forefront of discussion, both here in New York and nationally. As one of the most gifted speakers of our time, he painted a picture of American life that remains vivid and powerful to this day.

In his last term as governor, when I became state comptroller, we certainly had our fair share of disagreements. But they were honest and professional. While our perspectives and positions may have differed based on our roles and duties, there was never a doubt in my mind that we were both fighting for the same ultimate goal—what was best for New York and New Yorkers.

New York is my adopted hometown—albeit for the last 50-plus years—but New York was Mario Cuomo’s hometown. You could hear it in his voice. Feel it in his passion for public service. See it in his character. Like our city and state, he was tough, fair and direct. Yes, New York helped define Mario Cuomo. And then, for a generation, Mario Cuomo helped define New York, both in the halls of government in Albany and as New York’s ambassador on the national stage.

Mario Cuomo changed New York and he changed it for the better. Although he’d been out of elected office for two decades, his legacy still lives on. His voice may be silent now, but his timeless words and ideals have shaped our state and will be with us forever.

H. Carl McCall is chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees and a former state comptroller and Democratic nominee for governor.