SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- For a brief time, there was speculation about Syracuse's mayor being Paterson's pick for Lieutenant Governor. Mayor Matt Driscoll was rumored to be one of a handful of people being considered for the job.

If the Governor had chosen Driscoll, it would have come as a complete shock to city hall. The mayor's office says he had not been in contact with Governor Paterson recently.

The mayor did release a statement in regards to the decision however,

saying, "I applaud Governor Paterson's bold move to break the logjam created by the Senate's impasse. The Senate's inability to pass important legislation impacts the fiscal health and well-being of the people of the State."