ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Republican Gov. George Pataki has spent the last months of his administration making sure more than 400 of his appointees guide state policy, spend and hire during and beyond the next governor’s term, records show.

To some Democrats, including Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer, Pataki is unfairly controlling part of state government after he leaves. Many appointees are Republican elected officials, party officials, consultants, former employees or contributors to Pataki’s three campaigns for governor.

For example, former Pataki Communications Director Lisa Dewald Stoll was appointed in September to the Long Island State Park Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission. Her term ends in 2013.

Some appointees were shifted or traded to other slots to extend their terms.

“As much as I have tried to respect the incumbent’s legal capacity to make decisions, I think wise policy would dictate against putting in place individuals in agencies where their terms in office will extend deeply into my term,” Spitzer said Thursday.

Republicans counter that Pataki is simply filling vacancies with his best choices until his final day as governor, Dec. 31. Some are clearly qualified for the jobs. Pataki appointed Dr. David J. Conti, a transplant surgeon at Albany Medical College, to the state Transplant Council in October. His term ends in 2008.

Most of the roles to advisory boards and commissions pay nothing more than expenses. But some appointments, such as to the Parole Board, Worker’s Compensation Board and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, come with power, influence and high salaries.

“Obviously, for those that are competent, hardworking, and public-service minded, it’s probably fine,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group. “For those just trying to hold on to their partisan position a little longer, it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

Horner, serving on Spitzer’s transition team, also remembers a flurry of appointments at the end of Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo’s tenure in 1994.

“The problem is the system,” he said. “There are too many appointees.”

“The governor is the governor until Dec. 31,” said Pataki spokesman Michael Marr. “As vacancies have come up on state boards and commissions, the governor has submitted qualified nominations to ensure the continued efficient operation of state government.

“It’s ironic that some of the loudest voices who have previously spoken out about the virtue of the independence of authorities and commissions now seem to be arguing that these same boards be completely dependent on who the incoming governor is,” Marr said, referring to several Democratic Assembly members.

Among Pataki’s final appointments is Lore B. Koppel, named to the Advisory Committee to the state Office for the Aging until July 2009. She chairs the Montgomery County Republican Committee and has contributed $6,000 to Republicans in Albany, including $2,250 to Pataki, since 2000, according to state Board of Elections records.

“I think it’s a very normal thing to do,” said Koppel of Fort Plain. This fall was her third appointment to the board and her daughter, Dr. Barbara Koppel, has been appointed by Pataki to two medical boards.

She said the appointees often have experience in the topic. For example, she has worked with the county Office for the Aging for years and with a seniors group. And, she said, board members do the public’s business once on the board.

“I get mileage and lunch twice a year,” she said with a laugh.

“This is objectionable on two levels,” countered Democratic Assemblyman Richard Brodsky of the 2006 appointments. “What the Pataki people did was make these appointments essentially patronage jobs ... these were supporters or even employees. The Pataki administration is trying to reach back from the grave to control the boards.”

Among the 2006 appointments were:

—Longtime Pataki confidant Charles Gargano, to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey until July 2012, and to the New York Convention Center Operating Corp. until March 2009.

—Republican Assemblyman Chris Ortloff, to the state Parole Board until June 2012.

—Longtime Pataki hand and Office of General Services Commissioner Daniel Hogan, to the state Racing and Wagering Board until February 2012.

—Edward Cox, once considered a top choice for state Republican chairman, reappointed to the State University of New York Board of Trustees until June 2013.

—Thomas Egan, reappointed to the SUNY Board of Trustees until June 2013.

—Stephen J. Hunt, to the SUNY board until June 2013.

—Pataki confidant John F. O’Mara, to the Commission on Judicial Nomination until April 2010.

—Ellen O. Paprocki, O’Mara’s daughter, to a $90,800-a-year seat on the Workers Compensation Board.

Seven people were appointed to the state Parole Board with terms ending between 2008 and 2011; two members to the state lobbying commission; seven members to the state Parole Board, with terms ending between 2008 and 2012; and 11 to the state Hospital Review and Planning Council to terms ending in 2008 and 2009.