It’s 100 years after women got the right to vote, 50 years after the second wave of feminism and two years after nearly 5,000,000 people marched nationwide demanding women have an equal seat at the political table. In our District of 18 elected Justices, only three are women. But this Supreme Court election is about qualifications, not gender.
I often hear: “You can never win as a Republican in this District”; “Why don’t you run as Democrat?” In 2014 and 2019, Democrats nominated men while declining to nominate qualified women.

I reject the notion that I cannot win.

Who am I? I am a Special Olympics tennis coach, a homeless shelter volunteer, and past president of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association. I am Rensselaer County Special Appellate Counsel, representing indigent Criminal and Family Court litigants. I am a local managing partner at Hinman, Howard and Kattell, LLP. I mentor young women Albany Law School students. I am mother to Haylee and Lindsey.

My mom retired as a registered nurse to raise our family and care for my grandmother. Dad worked at the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System. My parents identified as Republican during the Eisenhower years, before today’s political acrimony. Growing up, money was tight. Family gatherings were a priority. Church was not optional. I learned values: give to the community through projects, collect and donate to the homeless, help domestic violence shelters, hard work and team work count. I delivered papers at age 12.

As an attorney I care for the indigent in Criminal and Family Court appeals, the wounded in injury and guardianship matters, and small business people in contract disputes. I advocate for “the little people” and give my strength to the weak and my voice to the voiceless.

Women Matter. Qualifications Matter.