Ruth Noemí Colón
Encyclopedia
Ruth Noemí Colón was the 66th Secretary of State of New York
, serving in the Cabinets of Governors David Paterson
and Andrew Cuomo
. She was appointed by Governor Paterson to replace outgoing Secretary Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
who officially resigned on September 1, 2010. She is the state's second Secretary of State of Hispanic
/Puerto Rican
ancestry to have served in this office. Colón is the third Puerto Rican to serve as Secretary of State in a state of the Union, preceded only by Pedro Cortés, of Pennsylvania and former Secretary Cortés-Vázquez, respectively.
A native of Caguas, Puerto Rico
, Colón joined the New York State Department of State
in 2006 and has served in a number of positions within the agency, most recently as Special Counsel, where she advised then-Secretary Cortés-Vázquez on strategic planning and a wide range of policy and legal issues.
A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico
and Pace University School of Law
, Secretary Colón has over 20 years experience working in government on policy and communications issues. Prior to joining the Department of State, Colón served as the Deputy Director for Communications at the New York City Housing Authority
and acted as a liaison to the New York City Mayor’s Office on issues concerning the Latino community. She has also served in a number of senior positions within the Puerto Rican government and has been admitted to practice law in New York
, Connecticut
and the District of Columbia.
A resident of White Plains
, Secretary Colón is a member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Bar Association. In 2008, she was named one of 50 Outstanding Latinas in New York by El Diario La Prensa
, New York City
's largest and oldest Spanish-language newspaper. A mother of two children, Colón is married to Gerson Borrero, a notable columnist, political commentator, and former editor-in-chief of El Diario La Prensa.
On March 31, 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the nomination of Cesar A. Perales
for the Secretary of State position. Effectively since May 2, 2011, Perales replaced Colón as the state's new Secretary of State and was confirmed by the New York State Senate
on June 7..
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
, serving in the Cabinets of Governors David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
and Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
. She was appointed by Governor Paterson to replace outgoing Secretary Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
Lorraine A. Cortés-Vázquez was the 65th Secretary of State of New York, serving in the Cabinet of Governor David Paterson. She originally served in the Cabinet of former Governor Eliot Spitzer and remained in office following Paterson's taking over the governorship on March 17, 2008...
who officially resigned on September 1, 2010. She is the state's second Secretary of State of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
/Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
ancestry to have served in this office. Colón is the third Puerto Rican to serve as Secretary of State in a state of the Union, preceded only by Pedro Cortés, of Pennsylvania and former Secretary Cortés-Vázquez, respectively.
A native of Caguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
, Colón joined the New York State Department of State
New York State Department of State
The New York State Department of State is the keeper of records for the state of New York. According to the New York State Division of the Budget Citizen's Guide to State Government Structure, the State Department of the Executive Branch of New York State Government issues business licenses,...
in 2006 and has served in a number of positions within the agency, most recently as Special Counsel, where she advised then-Secretary Cortés-Vázquez on strategic planning and a wide range of policy and legal issues.
A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
and Pace University School of Law
Pace University School of Law
Pace University School of Law, known colloquially as "Pace Law School", is the law school of Pace University, a comprehensive, independent, and diversified university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County...
, Secretary Colón has over 20 years experience working in government on policy and communications issues. Prior to joining the Department of State, Colón served as the Deputy Director for Communications at the New York City Housing Authority
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority provides public housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs of New York City. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments...
and acted as a liaison to the New York City Mayor’s Office on issues concerning the Latino community. She has also served in a number of senior positions within the Puerto Rican government and has been admitted to practice law in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and the District of Columbia.
A resident of White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, Secretary Colón is a member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Bar Association. In 2008, she was named one of 50 Outstanding Latinas in New York by El Diario La Prensa
El Diario La Prensa
El Diario la Prensa is the largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in New York City, and the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. Published by ImpreMedia, the paper covers local, national and international news with an emphasis on Latin America, as well as human-interest...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's largest and oldest Spanish-language newspaper. A mother of two children, Colón is married to Gerson Borrero, a notable columnist, political commentator, and former editor-in-chief of El Diario La Prensa.
On March 31, 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the nomination of Cesar A. Perales
Cesar A. Perales
Cesar Augusto Perales is the Secretary of State of New York currently serving in the Cabinet of Governor Andrew Cuomo. On March 31, 2011, he was nominated by Governor Cuomo to replace outgoing Secretary Ruth Noemí Colón, and took office on May 2, 2011. He was confirmed by the State Senate on June 7...
for the Secretary of State position. Effectively since May 2, 2011, Perales replaced Colón as the state's new Secretary of State and was confirmed by the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
on June 7..