CityAndStateNY.com
Dana Carotenuto Rico CHIEF OF STAFF, NEW YORK STATE SENATE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE
Birthday: 10/24/1976
Where did you go to college? Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Brooklyn Law School What politician, living or dead, do you most admire? Sen. Jeff Klein (of course!)
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ANA CAROTENUTO RICO has worked her way up the ranks over the nine years she’s worked for state Sen. Jeff Klein. After graduating from Georgetown University and Brooklyn Law School, she started out as Klein’s district representative. Within one year, she was promoted to deputy chief of staff and oversaw his whole district operation. She also became his lead negotiator on housing policy, particularly during the foreclosure crisis. When the Independent Democratic Caucus was created in 2009, Carotenuto Rico began to travel to Albany and became policy director for Klein and the IDC. After this year’s budget was passed, she was promoted to chief of staff. Like many in politics, Carotenuto Rico enjoys being able to serve the public. “I think that the ability to affect people’s lives and see the effects you’ve had in their lives is probably one of the most rewarding things you can get out of life,” she said. “You know, you’re not making millions of dollars but I think that’s just as rewarding and that’s why I’ve stayed in politics and I’ve stayed with Senator Klein.” When not working in Albany, she enjoys staying close to home with a good book, and spends most weekends on her back porch reading. She’s also close with her family, who all live within five blocks of her. Carotenuto Rico and her husband also enjoy going out for nice dinners in the city. “That’s our guilty pleasure, I guess I’d say,” she said.
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