Politics on the Hudson

Gov. David Paterson announced today that he has appointed Ruth Noemi Colon of White Plains as acting secretary of state. She replaces Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, who resigned as of yesterday to take a senior position with AARP in Washington.

Colon has worked at the Department of State since 2006 and has served in numerous positions there, most recently as special counsel.

“I am pleased to appoint such a dedicated and accomplished individual as Ruth Noemi Colon as acting Secretary of State. Ruth has been a dedicated public servant, acting as special counsel and advising the secretary on a range of legal, business, licensing and local government issues,” Paterson said in a statement. “The Department of State is a critically important agency to our state, as it comprises a diverse range of services for New Yorkers, from real estate licensing to business incorporation to local government services.”

Colon is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and Pace University Law School and has worked in government for more than 20 years, according to the Paterson administration. Before working at the Department of State, she worked for the New York City Housing Authority as a deputy director of communications and as a staff attorney. Colon has served in a number of senior positions in Puerto Rico’s government.

Colon serves on the board of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and is a member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. She was named one of 50 Outstanding Latinas by El Diario-La Prensa Spanish-language newspaper in New York City.