Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s rise to the highest office in our state is a historic moment for New York as we’ll witness the first woman governor sworn into office. As the 57th governor of New York, it’s certainly overdue to have a woman leading our great state. Hochul not only has worked her way up in politics, going from town board to Congress, but she also has real-world experience and practical know-how to get things done. She has local ties to Central New York, too, earning her undergraduate degree at Syracuse University.

After she’s sworn in at midnight on Tuesday, Aug. 24, I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Hochul as the governor of New York. She has spent significant time traveling across the state and learning about all the upstate and downstate communities, and she understands the unique issues and concerns in Central New York and other regions. As chair of the Assembly’s Small Business Committee and member of the Economic Development committee, we’ve already worked together to create good-paying jobs for hardworking Central New Yorkers and drive more investment locally and statewide. The calm demeanor she has already shown as lieutenant governor will foster an excellent working relationship moving forward, allowing us to continue uplifting local families and small businesses.

Hochul’s roots are in Western New York, as her Irish immigrant grandparents started a family in Buffalo after they met in Chicago. Her father, who worked for a steel company, founded and led an information technology company. Her mother was certainly busy, too, staying home to raise Hochul and her five siblings. Hochul earned her law degree from The Catholic University of America and worked in Washington D.C. for New York politicians, such as Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, before moving back to Buffalo and entering politics herself.

It’s been 100 years since anyone from north of Dutchess County has served as governor and, clearly, an upstate resident is overdue at the Executive Mansion in Albany. We’ve overcome unprecedented challenges over the past year, and I’m confident we can continue to move forward in a way that lifts Central New Yorkers up. I’ll keep fighting for our communities in this new chapter of our state’s history.

As always, my door is always open if you have any questions about this or other community issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at StirpeA@nyassembly.gov or by calling 315-452-1115.