State Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, the highest-ranking Hispanic official in the Paterson administration, told el Diaro/La Prensa she is leaving her post to return to the private sector, taking a cjob as the executive vice president for the AARP in Washington, D.C.

Cortes-Vazquez, a Spitzer administration holdover who has close ties to former Assemblyman/lobbyist Roberto Ramirez, told the paper she was accutely aware of the fact that the governor doesn’t have many days on the job remaining, which motivated her to give up her state post before her own time runs out.

“For me this has been a phenomenal experience, I made history as the first Latino (in serving as Secretary of State) and we have reaped many successes because I’ve had a phenomenal employees but things change, the governor decided not to stand for election and me that was very important,” said Cortes-Vazquez, who also noted that his new job is but a continuation of their work to community service.

(You gotta love Google translate).

DN Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett noted Cortes-Vazquez is the latest in a long time of departures from the Paterson administration – a trend that will likely not only continue, but also speed up, as Jan. 1, 2010 nears.

A formal announcement is expected later today.

UPDATE: It is now official. The governor released a statement saying he has accepted Cortes-Vazquez’s resignation. His statement appears after the jump.

Secretary Cortés-Vázquez has been with my Administration from the beginning, leading the Department of State with skill and distinction,” Paterson said.

“As Secretary of State, Lorraine has been able to take the important roles of the Department of State – from real estate licensing to business incorporation to local government services – and combine them under the banner of better and more efficient service for the people of the State.”

“She has balanced the often competing interests of economic development and environmental protection with thoughtfulness and dexterity. AARP will be lucky to have her, and we look forward to her work on behalf of older persons in New York and throughout the country.”

Share|