GOP political leader seeks non-political appointment process
-
- November
- 26
  Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco, R-Schenectady, is asking the governor (via a letter) to conduct an “open, transparent and non-partisan process” to replace U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, a Chappaqua Democrat who is expected to receive a nod from President-elect Barack Obama to be his secretary of state. If Clinton accepts the position, it would be up to Gov. David Paterson to pick a successor for Clinton, would also run in a 2010 special election. (Clinton was elected to a second term in 2006.)
  All kinds of names have been thrown out for who should replace Clinton, including state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo; U.S. Reps. Nita Lowey of Harrison, Nydia Velazquez of New York City, Kirsten Gillibrand of the Albany area or Brian Higgins of Buffalo; and environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose father once held the seat. All are Democrats.
  “In exercising your executive prerogative, I know millions of New Yorkers would agree that the process through which Senator Clinton’s successor is appointed should adhere to the highest standards of public openness, transparency and bipartisanship,” Tedisco wrote. “It is imperative that the process provides citizens, media and elected officials alike full disclosure of the qualifications for any prospective candidate warranting your serious consideration.”
  Tedisco said the candidate for the position should be strongly committed to helping the struggling upstate economy. Tedisco said Clinton did not fulfill her campaign promise of bringing 200,000 jobs to upstate.
  “Governor, New Yorkers trust in your judgment and capacity to put the best interests of our state ahead of any political or parochial concerns,” Tedisco wrote.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 4:11 pm by Cara Matthews.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
| 
Email This
