Ruth Hassell-Thompson facts for kids

Ruth Hassell-Thompson (born November 6, 1942) is a former State Senator from Mount Vernon, New York. She represented the 36th district of New York. This district includes parts of the Bronx and the City of Mount Vernon.

Ruth Hassell-Thompson's Career

Ruth Hassell-Thompson was born in New York City on November 6, 1942. She started her career helping people in different ways.

Early Work and Community Service

From 1963 to 1998, Ruth worked as a pediatric nurse. She cared for children at Mount Vernon Hospital. She also worked for the Westchester Community Opportunity Program for ten years. There, she held many important management jobs.

Later, she became the executive director of the Westchester Minority Contractor's Association. This group helped minority contractors in the community. She led this association from 1980 to 1987.

From Business to City Leadership

Before entering politics, Ruth was involved in real estate. She was the president and CEO of Whart Development Company Inc. She also advised small businesses.

In 1993, she was elected to the Mount Vernon City Council. This was her first step into public office. She later became the council president. She even served as acting mayor for a time.

Serving in the State Senate

In 2000, Ruth Hassell-Thompson was elected to the New York State Senate. As a State Senator, she helped make laws for New York. She was the chairwoman of the Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee. This committee works on issues related to victims of crime and the justice system. She also served on committees for consumer protection and legal matters.

In 2016, Ruth announced she would leave the Senate. She decided to work for Governor Andrew Cuomo. She became a special adviser for policy and community affairs. In this role, she helped with housing and community development in New York State.

See also

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