Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Stewart-Cousins in 2013
Member of the New York Senate from the 35th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2007
Preceded by	Nicholas Spano
Personal details
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Yonkers, New York
Alma mater	Pace University Lehman College Pace University
Occupation	Public Official
Website	www.nysenate.gov/senator/andrea-stewart-cousins

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Democrat, Independence and Working Families) is a New York State Senator and the first woman in New York State history to lead a conference in Albany. The Yonkers resident represents the 35th State Senate district in New York which in its present configuration includes Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown, Scarsdale and parts of Yonkers, White Plains, and New Rochelle. Prior to being elected to the New York State Senate, she was a Westchester County Legislator. She was elected to the New York State Senate in 2006. In 2012, her colleagues chose her to be the first female legislative leader; she currently serves as Democratic Conference Leader.

Stewart-Cousins was born and raised in New York. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pace University and her teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College. She is a graduate of Pace University (May 2008) with a Masters of Public Administration and is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the Public Administration Honor Society. She spent twenty years in the private sector, including thirteen years in sales and marketing with New York Telephone/AT&T. She also pursued a career in journalism and teaching before entering public service. Her public service career began in 1992 when she became the first African- American to serve as the Director of Community Affairs in the City of Yonkers.

Prior to her election to the New York State Senate in 2006, Andrea Stewart-Cousins served for a decade as a Westchester County Legislator representing Yonkers. During her tenure (from 1996 to 2006), she was elected Majority Whip and Vice-Chair, and she authored and passed landmark legislation, including: Westchester County’s first human rights laws; living wage laws; smoke-free workplace laws; tougher gun laws; laws that prosecute "predatory lenders"; and laws that have provided tax cuts for seniors and veterans. As Chair of the Health Committee, Legislator Stewart-Cousins brought the "Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program" to Westchester County.