Op-Ed: At a difficult moment, Hochul is ready to lead

The pandemic has been a difficult time for our country and our state, and the scandal involving Gov. Andrew Cuomo has created another difficult moment for the state of New York. When women first came forward alleging inappropriate behavior by the governor, I joined my colleagues in the Senate majority in demanding an investigation that would allow all the facts to come to light.

When the attorney general released her report earlier this month, it painted a deeply disturbing picture, and I called upon the governor to step down or face impeachment. With the behavior outlined in the attorney general’s report, it was clear that the governor had violated his oath of office, and he had violated the public trust. The governor’s resignation was a necessary step toward restoring dignity and integrity to our state’s executive branch.

His announcement demonstrates that no amount of political influence provides immunity from the consequences of sexual harassment. The women who came forward to tell their stories should be commended. After being victimized, they were repeatedly disrespected by the governor and his inner circle in attempts to discredit them. As New Yorkers, we should all be grateful to them for their brave actions in the face of what we now know they had to endure.

Very soon, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul – a Western New York native – will take the reins as New York’s 57th governor. At this difficult moment, Lt. Gov. Hochul is ready to lead, and she needs our support. She fully understands the issues facing upstate cities like Buffalo, and through her two terms as lieutenant governor she has been well known for keeping her finger on the pulse of New Yorkers in every region of the state. I have the utmost faith in her ability to not only guide New York through these tumultuous times, but also to help lead Western New York to a more prosperous future.

I have known soon-to-be-governor Hochul for nearly 20 years, and everything I know about her tells me that she is ready for what lies ahead. As an elected official, she doesn’t walk into the room thinking she knows all of the answers. Instead, she works as a collaborative leader who likes to surround herself with smart people. She has also shown a strong commitment to transparent government, another quality that will provide a refreshing change of pace for New York state.

Kathy Hochul’s historic path as the first woman to serve as governor of New York has been paved by her hard work, and the milestone is long overdue in a state that is known as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement. I join my fellow members of the state Legislature in giving her my full support. And just as I have for years while she served in her previous roles, I look forward to working with Gov. Hochul to prioritize the needs of the people of Western New York.