Ruth Hassell-Thompson

Ruth-Hassell Thompson of Mount Vernon, New York is a State Senator representing the 36th district of New York, which includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Norwood, Bedford Park, Williamsbridge, Co-op City, Wakefield and Baychester and the Westchester city of Mount Vernon.^[1]

Political career and background

Ms. Hassell-Thompson worked as a pediatric nurse and substance abuse counselor for Mount Vernon Hospital from 1963 to 1998. From January 1980 to June 1987, she was Executive Director of the Westchester Minority Contractor's Association (WMCA). Prior to leading the WMCA, she worked for the Westchester Community Opportunity Program for 10 years in a number of management positions. She then served as President/CEO of Whart Development Company, Inc., a real estate development company and a consultant to small and developing businesses before being elected to Mount Vernon City Council in 1993. She would later serve as Council President and Acting Mayor.

In 2000 she was elected to the State Senate. She is the Chairwoman of the Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee and is a former Ranking Minority Member on the Consumer Protection and Judiciary committees.

Honors

Hassell-Thompson received the Sojourner Truth Racial Justice Award, the Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Achievement Award, the Minority and Women Business Development Award from the state of New York Department of Commerce, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Keeping the Dream Alive Award, and has been named to the African-American Civic and Legal Hall of Fame. She has received two honorary doctorates.

Electoral history

• Hassell-Thompson also ran on the Working Families Party of New York ticket.

Notes

See also

• New York State Senate
• 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis

External links

• New York State Senate: Ruth Hassell-Thompson