Not even a fortnight since Eliot Spitzer’s resignation, problems with New York’s newest governor, David Paterson (CC ’77), have already surfaced. The New York Daily News is reporting that Paterson had used campaign funds to purchase clothing, bar tabs, and hotel stays at a Quality Inn on the Upper West Side (at which to carry on extramarital affairs, naturally).

He also apparently gave one of his girlfriends $500 in July 2002, but his aides were later quoted as saying that he “misstated” that he had done that. Paterson explains that one of his girlfriends, Lila Kirton, had attended a campaign event, and therefore the $500 he used to reimburse her was a “professional” expense.

Paterson maintains that he paid back these expenses (well, most of them). However, this doesn’t change the fact that politicians aren’t allowed to use campaign money for non-campaign-related expenses.

If Paterson is forced to resign, next in line for the governorship is Eliot Spitzer-mortal-enemy Joseph Bruno, the New York State Senate Majority Leader.