Greene County Attorney Wants Congressional Seat

On the day Governor David Paterson announced Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand would be the next U.S. senator from New York, attorney Carol Schrager of Hunter was the lone democrat to confirm that she is going to try to fill Gillibrand's seat in the 20th district. Party leaders in the ten counties that make up that district will select the candidate who will run in a special election. Schrager says that decision will come within the next week to ten days.

"It's all in their hands," says Schrager, "and I know they are carefully considering many fine candidates and I'm sure they'll make an excellent choice."

Speaking to CBS 6 News' Craig Smith during a recent visit to the studios, Schrager said she's been attempting to get party leaders to give her the nod.

"I've reached out to them. I've spoken to most of them. I intend to meet with all of them in the near future if I can and talk to them and let them get to know me," says Schrager.

Schrager is a 1979 graduate of Harvard Law School and has run her own law practice for twenty-five years, often representing ski resort and defending against lawsuits filed by skiers. She says she gets up to the northern end of the district when she can.

"Greene county is the center of where I am but of course, I'm travelling throughout the district. I happen to love spending time up at Lake George. On special occasions we often go up there just because it's so beautiful."

Who's out there recommending Schrager to the county chairs? She says she's acting largely as her own agent at this point.

"I know many, many people throughout - I've been active in trying to get good  government officials elected so I've been involved in the Democratic National Committee's Women's Leadership Forum and various other groups...I can't say there's a person I'm counting on to sway anyone else. I present my credentials broadly and hope that I would get a chance to meet with the individual county chairs and explain to them more about me so they can make the right decision."

Schrager says she was one of Gillibrand's earliest supporters and mentioned the incoming senator near the end of her visit. She said she can build on Gillibrand's "stunning record of accomplishment".

"Kirsten Gillibrand has done a phenomenal job as our representative and our district really needs and deserves a powerful voice in Washington, says Schrager, "especially in these imperiled economic times. We need someone who's going to fight for our working families and our small businesses, to create jobs and stimulate the economy and just make a better future here for our children."

Governor Paterson has yet to declare when the special election will be.