Kirsten Gillibrand: New York's Next Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand: New York's Next Senator
Huffington Post
by Nicholas Sabloff
January 22, 2009

Democratic governor Paterson's choice of Gillibrand over Kennedy is puzzling, since Gillibrand's family has strong ties to Republicans, reports the Village Voice:

The irony is that Paterson may be swinging from the nation's most prominent Democratic family to one with strong Republican ties. Gillibrand's father, Doug Rutnik, is an Albany insider and lobbyist whose ties to former GOP powerhouses Joe Bruno, George Pataki and Al D'Amato are legendary. In fact, Gillibrand won her seat when a state police domestic violence report about the GOP incumbent, John Sweeney, was mysteriously leaked, ostensibly with the acquiescence of the Pataki administration, which had its own reasons to oppose Sweeney. Bruno is under federal investigation now, and some of the subpoenas in the case involved a real estate deal that partnered Rutnik with Bruno and another lobbyist. Rutnik dated, and eventually lived with, a top Pataki and D'Amato aide for many years, until he broke up with her in 2006 to marry a cousin of his, Gwen Lee, who'd worked in high-paying state jobs secured by the same aide. Rutnik and D'Amato have been registered lobbyists for some of the same clients.

Ironically, Chuck Schumer, who defeated D'Amato in 1998, is said to be Gillibrand's top Democratic champion. What's even more ironic is that Gillibrand has a one hundred percent rating from the National Rifle Association, and Schumer made his own national reputation as a sponsor of the assault weapons ban and a fierce proponent of Brady bill and other gun control legislation. Gillibrand even opposes any limitations on the sale of semiautomatic weapons or "cop-killer" bullets that can pierce armored vests. Schumer's other signature issue is the care and feeding of Wall Street, and Gillibrand voted against both of the Schumer-supported financial service bailout bills last fall, which have delivered billions to New York, salvaging institutions like Citigroup. An editorial in Crain's, the city's premier business news magazine, said recently that Gillibrand "should be disqualified" from seeking the senate seat "by her politically expedient vote" against the bailout.

While Gillibrand's spokeswoman denied any contact between Gillibrand and Paterson throughout the day Thursday, a highly placed Democratic source said that members of New York's Congressional delegation were briefed Thursday afternoon that Gillibrand will be named.[...]

In addition, the guest list for Friday's announcement includes a number of people close to the second-term congresswoman: Congressman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, and Susan Savage, chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature, are expected to be there. Leaders from across Gillibrand's Congressional district said they received invitations from the governor's office to be on hand as well.

A source close to a rival candidate for the Senate seat tells the Huffington Post that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand has indeed been picked, as was first reported earlier this evening. The source said that the rival candidate had been told by Gov. Paterson's office that he had chosen Gillibrand.

MSNBC is reporting that Congresswoman Gillibrand has been called to an 11 a.m. meeting on Friday morning with Gov. Paterson, which would seem to fuel further speculation that she will be the choice to fill Senator Clinton's seat.

WPIX is reporting Thursday night that New York Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is to be named by Gov. David Paterson to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat:

PIX NEWS is being told that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is the reported choice of Governor David Paterson to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Two Congressional sources say members of the New York delegation have been invited to join Governor Paterson for the announcement in Albany at noon tomorrow.[...]

With most Democratic leaders in Albany coming from the New York City area, one source said this would be an important move for the Governor to have a Senator from upstate. Sources say Gillibrand would be an asset to Paterson in any bid for election in 2010.

While some insist Gillibrand is the Governor's choice, another New York Congressman cautioned tonight that "It's not a done deal." He claims there is some political in-fighting and ongoing conversations with the Governor. There appears to be some challenge to Gillibrand's voting record. She's now serving her second term. Reached for comment, the Dean of New York's Congressional delegation, Charlie Rangel, would say nothing more than that he's been invited to join the governor for an announcement tomorrow morning.

The news came after Caroline Kennedy withdrew from consideration late Wednesday night.

From Kirsten Gillibrand's official website:

Congresswoman Gillibrand serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee . On the Armed Services Committee, Representative Gillibrand serves on the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities subcommittee and the Seapower subcommittee. On the Agriculture Committee Representative Gillibrand serves on the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry subcommittee, Conservation Credit Energy and Research subcommittee and the Horticulture and Organic Agriculture subcommittee.

During the administration of President Clinton, Gillibrand served as Special Counsel to the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Andrew Cuomo. At HUD she played a key role in furthering HUD's Labor Initiative and New Markets initiative, working to strengthen enforcement of the Davis-Bacon Act and drafting new markets legislation for public and private investment in building infrastructure to revitalize lower income areas across the nation. Following federal service, Congresswoman Gillibrand entered the private sector, joining one of the Country's premier law firms.

Kirsten Gillibrand's Wikipedia entry claims that she was "born into a politically connected family" in Albany and has more on her life before and outside the office:

After attending Albany's Academy of Holy Names, she graduated in 1984 from Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, the first all women's high school in the United States.

A magna cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College in 1988, Gillibrand went on to receive her law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1991 and served as a law clerk on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.[...]

She splits her time between Greenport, New York and Washington D.C. with her husband, Jonathan Gillibrand, and their son, Theodore (b. 2004). On May 15, 2008, Gillibrand gave birth to her second child, Henry Nelson Gillibrand, making her the sixth woman to have a child while serving as a Member of Congress.