I Ran for Office with Kirsten Gillibrand

First of all, I want to point out a presently recommended diary by Casey Morris on Daily Kos, and say that I agree with much of what she has said about our future junior Senator from New York.

But let me come at this from a bit of a different perspective.

In 2006, I ran for the NYS Senate in the 41st District and that State Senate District overlapped 3 Congressional Districts: the 19th, where John Hall was running to unseat Sue Kelly, the 22nd District, where Maurice Hinchey was running for re-election, and the 20th CD where Kirsten was running for the first time against John Sweeney.

In that situation, almost every appearance you make as a candidate is a joint appearance with others on the ticket.

As a result, I spoke at meetings, county fairs, rallies, and dinners with all of these candidates...as well as, then candidate for re-election, Senator Clinton.

In the case of Kirsten's, I appeared with her the most, as our districts shared the largest amount of real estate, and, as a result, I got to know her quite well... not exclusively as a person, but as a candidate and potential office holder.

In those events, I'm here to report that she was the first one to arrive and the last to leave... answering every question and showing real interest in people's lives. I was very busy myself, but my admiration for her grew as I watched a confident, attentive, ambitious, candidate evolve into a quality Congresswoman who represented her District with passion and dedication.

I know many on this site are disappointed in this decision, but, when I heard about the opening, my first thought was of Congresswoman Gillibrand. In fact, when all is said and done, I can't think of any other appointment who:

- Has legislative experience
- Can raise the kind of money that will need to be raised over the next 4 years
- Has broad popularity upstate
- Has the support of the woman she is replacing

There will be plenty of time to debate upcoming votes and everyone will have a chance to contact the Senator and voice your opinion... and, I can guarantee that she will listen.

After she won in 2006, I attended the first of her many since town hall meetings in Rhinebeck where she began her listening tour of her district. I snapped the photo below and wrote a diary called "This is what Democracy Looks like" on The Albany Project.

This is how she has connected with the people in her district, and this is how she will connect with all New Yorkers... progressive, moderate and conservative.

I applaud the Governor's choice, and in the best part that our democracy has to offer, those who don't, can organize and give New Yorkers a different choice in 2010... but I think as you get to know the Senator, you will come to admire and support her as I have.

Comments

[renatam]

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/01/chris_smith_on_patersons_one_n.html

Chris Smith on Paterson"s One New Friend and Many New Enemies - 1/29/09

...Politically, Paterson has made himself a new best friend in former senator Al D"Amato. (Kirsten Gillibrand was a summer intern in D"Amato"s office and her father is one of D"Amato"s closest friends.) D"Amato has already been shaking the money tree on Paterson"s behalf; on the negative side, he"s an ethically dubious Republican lobbyist in an overwhelmingly Democratic state. A handful of women's groups have also praised Paterson.

[BlueAsh]

She is "the only one who has the support of the woman she is replacing." Hmmm, that says it all, doesn't it?

[Doofus]

Llining up to replace Gillibrand in New York’s 20th Congressional District...

The Kingston Daily Freeman - January 25, 2009

The latest names to be added: Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, a Democrat; Democrat Carol A. Schrager of Hunter, a lawyer; and independent Michael S. Pollok of Red Hook, also a lawyer. ...

Among the Democrats who may run for the seat are Larry Bulman, the Saratoga County Democratic chairman; Mike Richter, a former goalie for the New York Rangers hockey team; Benita Zahn, a news anchor and reporter at WNYT-TV 13 in Albany; Valerie Keehn, the mayor of Saratoga Springs; and Joanne Yepsen, a Saratoga County Board of Supervisors member from Saratoga Springs.

On the Republican side, names that were mentioned on Friday included Alexander “Sandy” Treadwell, a former New York GOP chairman and secretary of state who lost to Gillibrand in the November 2008 election; James Tedisco, the state Assembly minority leader; state Sen. Betty Little of Queensbury; John Faso of Columbia County, a former state Assembly minority leader and the 2006 GOP candidate for governor; and Richard C. Wager of Dutchess County, a former aide to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

State Assemblyman Tim Gordon, and independent from Bethlehem, also is interested in the seat, according to a published report.

A date for the special election to fill the 20th Congressional District seat has not been set, but it is expected to be within about two months.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/01/25/news/doc497bf084a9cd8066976237.txt

[Doofus]

So, there'll be a special election to replace Gillibrand
well before there's one to elect her to the Senate.

[renatam]

Yes, and a Republican will win her old seat -- and, our accidental Governor opened a door for the same to be possible for both the Senate and Governor seat.

New Yorkers have voted for Republicans in the past -- statewide. David Paterson is turning out to be a mediocrity and worse, petty back room, old style pol hack. He lacks the qualifications for the job he holds. And, if we vote Republican - it will be an authentic Republican who we know where they stand - out in the open. We will not be Joe Lieberman-ed like our friends in CT. Gillebrand is a lobbyist...and not loyal to any Party...as we will see over the next two years when she has to slide Left for downstate votes and anger her Conservitive constituencies.

This was an unnecessary ploy and a risk for President Obama's agenda.

Thanks, David.

[111]

I wonder why there is such a hard sell for this woman. The fact is she has been appointed and we have to live with this for a couple of years. Another fact is that Paterson has made it known that he chose her to benefit his own political career - her family is a NY political dynasty, she has a strong upstate base and can raise a lot of money.
In looking at her voting record she is a Republican that calls herself Democrat.
Since you have brought up her defeat of John Sweeney, like many of her other defenders, I have read that the turning point came when a news story was "leaked" about a domestic violence incident he was involved in.
Having Al D'Amato on the stage with her was not heart warming either.

I am only hoping she doesn't do too much harm since she will likely be voting with senate Republicans on some major issues - sort of makes a joke of that Democratic majority.

I'm sure she is a nice mom, etc. but she won't be getting my vote.

[Doofus]

Yeah, well, Albany area politics has been 'dynastic' since Martin Van Buren's day.

http://m.timesunion.com/topic/1862-CapitolState%20news/articles/189940609

[glorialovelace]

How can you say that she's a Republican who calls herself a Democrat when she votes with the Democrats and against the Republicans 93 percent of the time?

[AnnfromCA]

Several polls indicated that people in NY were underwhelmed by Kennedy. This appointment pleases upstate NY, which is often ignored, chooses an obviously bright woman who is hard-working and for people.

She'll do fine. The only person who messed this up was Kennedy. Good gracious, she's on the phone with her "team?" Talk about money being thrown around!

[Roose]

At least Caroline Kennedy is a REAL Democrat!

I think that you should look at the polls of how NY Democrats feel about having a Republican from upstate handed this plum job and then seeing her cebrating with Al D'Amato, of all people.

[hutom]

NY City or the state?

Why is Caroline Kennedy a democrat ? She inherited that trait, did she?

[glorialovelace]

If you continue to post that Gillibrand is a Republican, nobody will take your opinions seriously, because that is misinformation.

D'Amato is one of Gillibrand's father's best friends. That doesn't make Kirsten a Republican.

My father's best friends were Russian s pies. That doesn't make me a Co mmunist.

[renatam]

Correct.

[crazyboutbooks]

I agree wholeheartedly with jsomerville5. Most of us are critical of the appointee, yet we do not live in her district. Let her be judged by her constituency. Anyway, in a few years (4?) another election will be held when the public can exercise their right to vote. I am not for the whole notion of one person being able to appoint such a powerful position (only 100 in the nation) to another without any confirmation hearing or vote. But what's done is done. Having said that, let's just hope that the people of NY will hold her accountable as we all should hold our elected officials accountable from the municipal level to the federal level.

[BlueAsh]

I am sure you know it is very difficult to defeat a sitting senator or congressman. Just look at Jean Schmidt of Ohio--with her attack on John Mertha and her the blantant lies about her educational credentials on her resume, she keeps getting re-elected.

Good luck hoping to replace her in two years.

[renatam]

Al D'Amato said that too. Fortunately, we now have a photo of Gillebrand's Press Conference with good old Al - Joe Bruno (just indicted) and a cast of other characters from upstate's money (lobbyist) trough to put on the back of every NYC bus and newstand - to be viewed by (literally) MILLIONS -- day in and day out for the next two years.

Perfect.

[lisa12345]

Hi--
I like some things about her too. She has a populist appeal and would go over well in PA as well. I appreciate her stances on many issues. I do not care for the 100% approval from the NRA. I think guns should be legal--civil liberty issue--but we need to consider public safety and common good issues as well. Democracy asks us to respond to the will of the constituents, but it also asks us to protect the minority and consider their viewpoint. Even if her district was very pro-gun, as a senator she will represent the state. Also, she will be voting on bills that effect all of the US citizens. This means that she will now have to consider the many people in the country who want a focus on limits. I hope she is open to considering more limits. The NRA is too strident these days. It would be great if that approval rating went down a bit. That said, setting gun limits won't make these guys give up the gun culture. They will give it up when they truly have the freedom, autonomy, and control that the guns take the place of.

[krechsd]

You are wonderful.

[Texas4Obama]

I just read some articles about the new Sen. Gilli and I think that Paterson made a HUGE mistake. This appointment might end up being the cause of Paterson losing his seat in the next race.

[jsomerville5]

Well I am up here in her district and he did not make a mistake. We are elated by his choice. It's kinda silly that people who don't even live here think they know what's best for NY.

[Doofus]

Maybe even kinda silly that some people who live outside
of your district think they know what's best for NY, eh?

[Roose]

Well, I live in the state of New York and I know that a Republican masquerading as a Democrat, is not what is best for New York or the Senate. We already have Joe Lieberman we don't need a female version.

[harriscrl3]

She represents a conservative district. That should be a clue right there. I dont know why people think thats an advantage, if you are a democrat its NOT. But I suppose if you just change your position to be seen as more progressive and people believe that you have a sudden over night epiphany its easy to pull it off. She is met with Al Sharpton today.

Carol

[renatam]

It is not an advantage, perverse to say (spin) so -- and unnecessarily puts President Obama's agenda for CHANGE that the majority of Americans voted for, in jeopardy.

We now have our own Joe Lieberman, just as CT is going to get rid of theirs and move forward.

[PKSSK]

Paterson made a two big mistakes, first, picking a repub and second, listening to the advice of both blue dog narcissitic senators who only cares about their wealthy manhatten constituents. P. King has a real good chance at beating either of these two senators when the time comes. Afterall, King is a mod conservative just like both of them. Cuomo will primary Paterson easily NY is about to change colors.

[renatam]

Count on it. This accidental Govenor began to BELIEVE his own very expensive PR and Gillebrand's old lawfirm Bois Schiller - made TWO maximum contributions to her upcoming Campaign in the amount of $25K from the Principals and Gillebrand's former Partners (David and Chris Bois) in LATE DECEMBER. Like Blago, but legally, Paterson has been collecting contributions for HIS Campaign from lobbyists upstate. Many were surrounding Gillebrand at her Press Conference.

Wonder how much Joe (just indicted) Bruno and Al D'Amato kicked in???

The HIT JOB in media, which even Mike Bloomberg is openly discussing today, as Gillebrand is scheduled to be sworn in -- was a distraction for the lazy Press to be spun instead of focusing on what was really going on, upstate.

Check the contributions in the last 60 days to the Paterson Campaign.

We have our own Blago, but Albany is such a cesspool - the Empire State can sell the seat for influence/agendas/contributions -- LEGALLY and lobbyists can stand at the Press Conference.

[cloudminder]

I think people like Rep Wiener- the one dating Hilary's assistant - and stuff like this raise a lot of questions for me about how HRC operated in Paterson's choice- I think there is some payback involved and I still think this Gill-- person is just an opportunist, and that would explain why she would support Kay Bailey Republican Hutchison's bill to allow easier gun ownership in DC-- boy that would have made things interesting earlier this week if that had passed, I support Carolyn McCarthy's concerns over all that relates to this appointment

and for Paterson to say that he only decided at the inauguration ceremony because of the cold weather-- eeewww -- it all just sounds so skiivy and creeps me out

[Citizen54]

If her main selling point is that she can connect with the electorate, then let's hope that doesn't change when she's Senator for the whole state. If she emulates her supporter and new colleague, our senator from Wall Street, that connection won't last. That man represents only one group: the financial interests. He doesn't even try to fake a connection w auto-generated email responses to constituent mail.

[cloudminder]

and then you have Rep Weiner, who worked for Schumer and mixed up with HRC's group, and he is touting all of the great things about this chick - it just raises more red flags.

[JailNeoconVicts]

"This chick"??? Wow. I don't think much more needs to be said about why some people don't approve.

[jsomerville5]

Did it ever occur to you that people in NY state are happy about this choice?

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090124/NEWS01/901240316

[glorialovelace]

Just remember that this is New York State, where it is not considered a bad thing to be pro-Hillary.

A lot of us have fingers crossed that Anthony Weiner will be NYC's next mayor. As a former admirer of Bloomie, I was taken aback when he used back room chicanery to do away with the term limits that voters had twice sanctioned. His behavior during this Caroline Kennedy business has shown him up for the autocratic, smoke-filled-room pol that he really is.

[PKSSK]

Well said and agree totally.