COLUMBIA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CONGRATULATES KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND

PRESS RELEASE

January 26, 2009, Ghent, New York: The Columbia County Democratic Committee congratulates our Congresswoman, Kirsten Gillibrand, on her swearing-in as the new United States Senator from New York. We from her home county know that Senator Gillibrand will remain Columbia County’s friend and neighbor and we salute her achievement. While she will no longer be representing our 20th District in Congress, we know that now she can bring to the Senate the same intelligence, tenacity, and principled advocacy for all the citizens of New York State. We congratulate Governor Paterson for seeing the greatness in Kirsten Gillibrand and entrusting this position to her. 

“Our county has come to know Kirsten and to appreciate her intelligence, tireless energy and commitment to the issues that Columbia County Democrats hold dear: fiscal responsibility, jobs, sustainable energy, economic development, the environment, agriculture, veterans’ benefits, and health care. All these vitally important issues have been paramount in her service to us,” said county chair Christopher Nolan. “The Columbia County Democratic Committee is thrilled that an Upstate New York perspective will be brought to the problems of our state. The economic stress to our region is acute, and we now know that someone who deeply understands its values and concerns will be their influential advocate.”

Victor Mendolia, Hudson City Democratic Committee chair, said, “Kirsten understands the future of upstate. Our open agricultural spaces and close location to high population centers make the upstate region the ideal setting for new energy and green technologies.”

“In her work in the House of Representatives, Senator Gillibrand has championed our farmers on the Agriculture Committee, advocated for our veterans on the Armed Services Committee, and been an outspoken advocate for sustainable energy and economic development that will produce many new, good-paying jobs,” said Cyndy Hall, 1st Vice Chair of the county Democratic committee.

As the mother of two young sons, Senator Gillibrand knows well the importance of childcare, education, and the struggles of working families. She will work for New York State families from a position of experience. Visible and accessible in her Congressional District, Gillibrand has pledged to continue her “Congress on the Corner” visits to all areas of the state. She also was the first member of Congress to post her schedule and earmarks on her website, and she pledged to continue this openness in government as a senator.

The Columbia County Democratic Committee salutes Kirsten Gillibrand as our new senator and wishes her and her family the very best.