Eliot Spitzer’s ascension to New York’s governorship was filled with promises of reform that made the voters hopeful for a better future. In most campaigns such boasts are vote-garnering rhetoric that never materialize. This is not the case with Spitzer. His promises are becoming reality! Day in and day out Spitzer has made or alluded to much-needed change in NY. His accomplishments are truly remarkable considering that he has been in power since only January.

Last week he pulled a major coup, announcing an agreement to change the workers compensation system. This was previously thought to be impossible as reforming the system was on George Pataki’s radar during his entire tenure but the system wound up becoming progressively worse. Only in NY could businesses pay the highest comp rates in the United States while the injured workers received some of the lowest benefits. In such a lost cause many firms left for other states due to this incredible cost of business while crippled workers struggled to make ends meet. But, Spitzer showed uncommon leadership in working with the legislature and Labor to come to an amicable agreement that reforms the weaknesses of the system to the point of decreasing rates by 15% and increasing benefits by 50%.

Such a victory is a miracle in itself because it followed weeks of hardball with the legislature. Since the get-go the legislature has been appalled by Spitzer’s in-your-face approach. The deadweights of Joe Bruno and Sheldon Silver seem truly threatened by what he is doing (and will be doing) and have put up barriers. The piece de resistance of this impasse was the legislature in all its self-serving glory choosing one of its own (a non-financial person no less) to be the state comptroller, despite Spitzer wanting a man of his choice who truly understands financials. This – a slap in the face to Spitzer and the citizens - is perhaps one of the dumbest moves that the legislature has pulled this year, for now that he has been scorned, Spitzer has become even more intense, singling out politicians by name and attacking the machine. As the role of governor requires, he is beholden to the people and not the politicians. Disassociating himself from the pols proves that he understands that they – not we – are they enemies.

He proved this understanding two weeks ago when he visited Niagara County. Rather than hosting a huge press conference in some gimmicky hall with elected officials and staff in tow, he instead took the press along with him to the home of the Kinney family, whereby he showed how down-to-earth he is and that he can address the importance of his position without leaning on a bunch of stuffy helping hands. He effortlessly expounded on the need to change the bloated Medicaid system, offer tax cuts to property owners, and make NY a better place. It is evident that he understands the issues and believes in what he preaches.

Not only does he know the people who truly matter, he also knows that there is a world outside of Albany and the New York metro area. In his campaign he addressed the need to improve upstate. Unlike the downstate majority he has not ignored this cause, appointing someone to be an upstate economic czar who will work hand in hand with him to return Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse to their glory days.

Even when Spitzer does something wrong he does it with promise. His budget proposal for 2007-08 comes with a 7.8% increase which is more than twice inflation and almost as ugly as this budget year’s growth (11.2%). Yet, the dark cloud has a silver lining. Rather than pasting past practices into the budget it comes outfitted with a wide variety of cuts (despite the growth) and reform standards. Among these endeavors was increased funding for education that came with a politically-profound let completely-logical caveat: if the schools fail to live up to standards they lose funding and their key personnel are harshly reprimanded if not terminated. For once we have a politician who understands that if you’re going to throw money at something there had better be results or the flow of money will stop.

One can’t help but be impressed. In two short months Spitzer has proven to be someone New Yorkers have needed for decades: a force to reckon with in Albany and a hero of the people. He really is as good as advertised and he might even be better. If he can maintain this vigor and focus over his entire reign then he will definitely go down as the greatest governor in the storied history of the Empire State.