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Gillibrand: ‘I’ll continue being your advocate’

Congresswoman sworn in for second term; talks about the possibility of filling Clinton’s U.S. Senate seat

By Andrew Amelinckx

HUDSON — The main courtroom of the Columbia County Courthouse in Hudson was filled to capacity Monday as friends, family and supporters of U.S. Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand witnessed her swearing-in ceremony for her second term in the House of Representatives.

The ceremony began with a eulogy by Rev. Richard D. Turpin, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Catskill.

Gillibrand, a Democrat from Greenport who represents the 20th Congressional District, beat out Republican Alexander “Sandy” Treadwell in the Nov. 4 election.

She was sworn in Monday by one of her mentors, U.S. Second Circuit Judge Roger J. Miner, who she once worked for as a law clerk. This was the second time Miner has had that duty.

Miner said he was honored to swear in his “friend, Mount Merino neighbor and former law clerk.

“She’s the smartest member of Congress and by far the best looking,” he said.

According to Miner, Gillibrand has always been a “people person,” even while a law clerk.

At the supreme court level, he said, the hearings rely on “the cold record.”

“There are no witnesses, just the attorneys and the record. ... Kirsten always wanted to go behind the scenes and see who the people were (that) we were dealing with,” he said, adding that her “empathy” has continued throughout her career.

“She’s an important member of Congress,” said Miner. “She’s done some great things.”

Miner mentioned Gillibrand’s “no” vote for the Wall Street bailout, saying that people have since found out “she was right.”

Gillibrand, speaking to the gathered crowd, said she would continue to work for her constituency. “I’ll continue being your advocate,” she said. “That’s what Congress is all about.”

The congresswoman, holding her 7-month-old baby, Henry, placed her hand on a Bible held by her 5-year-old son, Theo, while Miner swore her into office. Her mother and father, Polly Noonan Rutnik and Judge Douglas Rutnik, stood by her side.

Gillibrand’s husband, Jonathan, was working Monday and unable to attend.

A recurring theme of the day seemed to be the possibility of Gillibrand replacing Sen. Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate. Clinton was named President-elect Barak Obama’s choice for secretary of state Monday and will be vacating the Senate in order to take that position.

Miner mentioned it during his speech, and afterwards, during a press conference, the local media talked of nothing else.

Miner told Hudson-Catskill Newspapers after the ceremony that Gov. David Patterson — the person who will decide Clinton’s replacement — should take a “good, hard look” at Gillibrand.

The Congresswoman said that the governor would choose the right person for the position and that his list of possible replacements for Clinton was full of great candidates.

“It’s an honor to be considered,” she said.

Gillibrand will be busy her second term. She said her priorities included looking at milk pricing with the Agricultural Committee. In the Armed Forces Committee her priorities include improving the Veteran’s Administration and ensuring the passage in the Senate of a bill she authored. Bill HR 5831 would require the Department of Defense to create a comprehensive handbook that would guide new veterans in the transition from active duty to veteran status and detail local resources available to them.

“It already passed the House,” she said.

Her overarching concern is the economy. She said job creation, building an alternative energy infrastructure and providing tax cuts to the middle class were all important.

To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx please call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267, or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com.

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