Congresswoman Appointed To Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Gov. David Paterson has appointed Democratic U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrandto fill New York’s vacant Senate seat.

The appointment was announced Friday and requires no further confirmation. Gillibrand replaces Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was recently named U.S. secretary of state.

The announcement comes one day after Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, abruptly withdrew from consideration for the Senate seat.

The 42-year-old Gillibrand has been one of the top contenders in Paterson’s selection process, along with Kennedy and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The upstate congresswoman had served as Cuomo’s special counsel when he was housing secretary under President Clinton.

Paterson’s appointment lasts until 2010, when a special election will be held to fill the final two years of Clinton’s term.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)