With Hillary Clinton slated to step into her post as Secretary of State, the Senate will gain a new member who can be an important advocate for New York.
Gov. David Paterson faces several challenges in selecting someone to fill the impending vacancy in the Senate. As the economy continues to falter, Paterson must choose a candidate who is familiar with our state budget and who can reconcile necessary public spending with appropriate fiscal restraint. New York needs a senator capable of speaking on behalf of New York’s economic needs. Especially important to Cornell will be ensuring the livelihood of the agricultural economy in Upstate New York and its continued partnership with Cornell’s contract colleges.
Paterson also has an opportunity to choose a politician whose roots are not in New York City and its suburbs. Clinton’s base in Westchester and Sen. Chuck Schumer’s in Brooklyn have focused policy-making on its effect on the city. With the chance to fill an open Senate seat, we hope Paterson will consider candidates from different urban hubs like Rochester, Albany or Buffalo. Such a choice will highlight the needs of New Yorkers in general.
Aside from guaranteeing the stability of our state economy and representing state interests, the new senator from New York will transition to service in the midst of a political reformation. The impending appointment represents an opportunity for Paterson to send a fresh new voice to Washington. A candidate not yet on the political radar can bring a novel perspective to the policy-making process and contribute to the culture of change begun by the election of this country’s first black president.
There are of course many state politicians with years of experience who would likely serve New York well in the federal government. But as Washington continues to transform, Paterson would set an example by choosing a younger senator who shares Obama’s charisma and youthful passion. Politicians must make good policy, but they must also energize a constituency and encourage broad political participation. Unimportant to some, charisma and passion are in fact vital to the continued viability of our federal government.
New York needs a senator who will fight for them no matter where they live, inside or outside the city. Paterson is in a unique position to ignore the political notoriety of his list of candidates and choose a senator who is truly representative of all New Yorkers, and of the changing political atmosphere in Washington. We hope he is up to the task.