Patricia A. Ritchie
(born February 22, 1962)
is a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
member of the
New York State Senate, representing the
48th district.
She was first elected in 2011. The district encompasses portions of the
North Country abutting
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York. The Canada–United States border ...
.
Early life
Ritchie is a lifelong resident of
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is a geographic region consisting of the area of New York State that lies north and northwest of the New York City metropolitan area. Although the precise boundary is debated, Upstate New York excludes New York City and Long Is ...
. The daughter of Rita A. and Kenneth H. Hilborne, she was born and raised in
DePeyster, New York.
At 15, she moved with her parents and brother to town of
Oswegatchie, New York.
She graduated from
Heuvelton Central High School
in 1980.
She received an
associates degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree.
The f ...
in social work from
Mater Dei College of
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg ( moh, Kaniatarahòn:tsi) is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 10,436 at the 2019 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and de ...
in 1985.
She briefly attended
SUNY Plattsburgh
The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh) is a public college in Plattsburgh, New York. The college was founded in 1889 and officially opened in 1890. The college is part of the State University of New York (SUN ...
, then transferred to
SUNY Potsdam. She was married in 1982 and continued her education part-time while raising her family and working. Ritchie earned her
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in psychology in 1991.
Career
Ritchie worked for the
Department of Motor Vehicles from 1986 to 1999.
She was then elected as the
St. Lawrence County Clerk, a position she held from 2000 through 2010.
In 2002, she was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for
New York State Assembly District 116, losing to Democrat
Darrel Aubertine
Darrel J. Aubertine (born June 3, 1953) is an American politician and farmer from the State of New York. A Democrat, Aubertine served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets from April 2011 to October 2013. H ...
.
In November 2010 she defeated Aubertine, this time for his seat in the State Senate. She was handily reelected in 2012, defeating a little known county legislator from Oswego County. She has run unopposed for reelection three times, in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
In 2011, Ritchie was named Chair of the Senate's Agriculture Committee, where she has been recognized as an outstanding champion of the state's 35,000 farm families and sponsored such initiatives as the Young Farmers Grant and loan forgiveness program. In 2016, Ritchie was named co-chair of the bi-cameral Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, and in 2017, was named Deputy Vice Chair of the important Health Committee, in recognition of her work to improve public health, especially in rural counties, like those she represents.
Personal life
She and her husband Tom live in Oswegatchie. They have three grown children.
References
External links
New York State Senate: Patty Ritchie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritchie, Patty
1962 births
Living people
Women state legislators in New York (state)
Republican Party New York (state) state senators
County clerks in New York (state)
State University of New York at Potsdam alumni
People from St. Lawrence County, New York
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians