By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Governor Pataki has signed legislation to create a financial control board for the City of Buffalo. Pataki has also announced his five appointees to the nine member board.
In a surprise move, Pataki has named Thomas Baker, executive director of the Oishei Foundation, as the Control Board chairman. Baker's name was not included on Pataki's short list released earlier this week.
Baker tells WBFO News he's "very excited" to be named to the board and believes "it's the right thing to do."
Governor Pataki also selected former New York City Budget Director Alair Townsend, M-and-T Bank Chairman Robert Wilmers, and Delphi Harrison vice President Ronald Pirtle and former state Assembly Minority Leader John Faso.