It ’s jolly ironical that New York finally got its first womanhood regulator because a state attorney superior general ’s report found that Gov. Andrew Cuomosexually harassedat least 11 women , some of them state employees . Cuomo , who serve as governor since 2011 , finally announced Aug. 10 , 2021 , that he would resign when it became clear-cut any funding he had vaporise and impeachment proceeding were all but certain . And as he step aside and Hochul was sworn in Aug. 24 , 2021 , history was made .
Lt . Gov. Kathleen " Kathy " C. Hochul was sworn in as the first woman regulator in the body politic ’s long history . Having served aslieutenant governorsince 2014 , Hochul ( pronouncedHOH - kuhl ) , is well prepared for the job .
Here are five things you need to know about the woman who is New York ’s first female regulator :
1. She Bleeds Blue
Hochul is n’t just a Democrat , she ’s an Irish - Catholic , blue - collar Democrat . She was born Aug. 27 , 1958 ( she ’s almost 63 ) and grew up in the small town ofHamburg , just outdoors of Buffalo . Her parent were hard - working the great unwashed – her dada go his own IT house and her mom play a flower shop and co - launch a shelter for domestic vilification survivors . They both actively supported the polite rights motion and protest the Vietnam War . Their example rubbed off and typeset the flight for Hochul ’s lifetime .
2. It’s All in the Family
During the summer after high schoolhouse , Hochul got her first taste of political science lick onSen . Patrick Moynihan’spolitical political campaign . She go on to Syracuse University for her undergraduate degree and interned at the state Assembly during summertime breakout while at Syracuse . While interning , she suffer her husband , Bill , who was later nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York . ( He has since retired and is now world-wide counsel for a private fellowship ) . After earning her natural law degree from Catholic University of America , Hochul join a large law firm but was n’t fulfilled . She leave to run as effectual counsel to U.S. Rep. John LeFalce and was soon recruit to work as a legislative assistant and legal counsel to Sen. Moynihan .
3. She’s Been in Politics a Long Time
Hochul ’s first elect office was a bottom on the Town Board of Hamburg where she served for 14 years . She was the only cleaning woman on the board until the follow twelvemonth when another posterior opened up and she encouraged her friend to bleed . In 2003 , she was appoint lieutenant county shop clerk of Erie County and four years later on she was appointed county clerk by then Gov. Eliot Spitzer ( another New York governor with a shady past ) . In 2011 , Hochul get ahead a congressional place in aspecial electionthat had been held by Republicans for 40 age though she narrowly lost the seat the following year . While she was in Congress , Hochul served on the House Armed Services and the Homeland Security Committees . In 2014 , she became Cuomo ’s running first mate and the relief is now history .
4. She’s Issue-oriented
As someone who comes from a solidly mediate - class background knowledge , Hochul aligns herself with the issues that resonate with those voter – pay family leave , low-priced tyke care , health care and educational activity , and safe gunman laws . She is also a women’s liberationist who believes powerfully in miscarriage and reproductive rights . She supports LGBTQ rights and the competitiveness for equality . Along with her female parent and aunt , Hochul establish theKathleen Mary Housein 2006 , a transitional home base for victims of domesticated violence . She worked on in-migration statute law when she worked for Sen. Moynihan in the 1980s and still works indefatigably to protect immigrant rightfield .
5. Her Transition Is Expected to Be Smooth
As deputy governor , Hochul served as the President of the New York State Senate , chaired the Regional Economic Development Councils andNew York State Women ’s Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commission . She was also co - chair of the New York State Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force and Community College Councils . Committees . That ’s all about to change . Hochul is probably assembling a changeover squad right now . allot to one report , she currently has just nine faculty fellow member . Job one : Finding a Modern deputy regulator . If Hochul does n’t charge someone straightaway , the DoS Senate Majority Leader , Andrea Stewart - Cousins , would become the acting police lieutenant governor until the position is filled . They will process the remainder of this term , until it exhale at the remnant of 2022 . Hochul , along with her deputy regulator , can go for re - election next year and will do so as incumbents .
