Kirsten Gillibrand Appointed Senator
Governor Paterson says congresswoman is "best candidate" to follow Clinton.
Shaun Savarese
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: State Senate debate
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The former congresswoman filled the vacancy left by now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
Gillibrand came to recognition in 2006 when she beat Republican Representative John E. Sweeney and won a seat in congress.
She gained notoriety among democrats when she defeated Republican Alexander "Sandy" Treadwell and earned more that 62 percent of the vote.
An Asian Studies major at Dartmouth College, Gillibrand spent time in China where she honed foreign language.
Gillibrand attended law school in California, graduated from UCLA than worked as a corporate lawyer.
She and her husband Johnathan Gillibrand had two young sons, Theodore, 5, and 6 month old Henry.
Governor David Paterson selected Gillibrand despite questions about her alliance with the National Rifle Association.
After eliminating all other candidates, the Governor narrowed his decision, a choice between President of the United Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten and Congresswoman Gillibrand.
Caroline Kennedy, the presumed favorite, informed the Governor, January 22, of her withdrawal from consideration for the United States Senate, citing "personal reasons."
Gillibrand campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2000 and raised "$4.6 million during her last election cycle."
She donated over $4,500 to the Clinton cause in 2008, also giving $1,000 to Leonard Boswell, an Iowan Democrat and cosponsor of the the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
| 1992-93 Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals |
| New York, N.Y. Davis Poll & Wardell |
| Special Council Housing and Urban Development (Andrew W. Cuomo) |
| Boise, Schiller & Lexner LLP |
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