One of the more influential voices among the chairmen will be Lloyd Constantine, Mr. Spitzer’s former law partner and currently a frequent tennis partner. Mr. Constantine led Mr. Spitzer’s transition into the attorney general’s office eight years ago.  Two other appointees served past Democratic governors: Elizabeth D. Moore, the former counsel to Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, and Peter C. Goldmark Jr., the former chief executive of The International Herald Tribune who served as budget director in the 1970’s for Gov. Hugh Carey. Mr. Goldmark will likely play a major role in picking the state’s next budget director.  “We have a group of leaders here who are bipartisan, who reflect the diversity of New York, who reflect every sector of the economy, public, private, not for profit,” Mr. Spitzer said. “Their wisdom will be a great help to us.”  Clearly, the process is in its early stages. A press release put out by the fledgling transition team this morning said the chairmen “will not be entering government service.” But when asked if he was ruling it out, Mr. Constantine, who had not had a chance to read the press release, said, “No, I’m not.” A spokesperson for the transition team said the press release had been hastily put together and might have been in error.  Beside the chairmen, the transition team’s executive director will be Rich Baum, a top campaign adviser who is expected to be named secretary to the governor, which is the governor’s top deputy. Two other members of the transition team are also expected to have prominent roles in the administration: Paul Francis, who will be the transition team’s policy director, and Francine James, the team’s appointments director.  Before having breakfast with Mr. Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion, Mr. Spitzer quipped that at an initial meeting with the mayor and other officials there was “a plate that was empty at my place, and so I thought this is symbolic of our negotiations as they move forward.”  Later in the day, he was asked whether he might keep on Gov. George E. Pataki’s banking commissioner, Diana Taylor.  Ms. Taylor is the significant other of the mayor.  “Look, any commissioner who was interested in staying, obviously, should indicate that preference,” he said. “Diana Taylor has been spectacular. We have worked with her in a number of cases where the A.G.’s office and the banking department worked together. She is also a friend and somebody who I have great regard for. I’m not aware that she is interested in staying, but again, we’ll see.”
Eliot Spitzer will fill hundreds of state jobs in the first gubernatorial transition in the state in a dozen years.