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Paul Kirk To Take Over Ted Kennedy's Seat In Senate

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 24, 2009 at 10:52 am

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Today it was announced that Paul Kirk (Paul G. Kirk Jr.) will temporarily take over the senator seat of late Ted Kennedy. Kennedy had brain tumor and passed away on August 25 at the age of 77. There were a lot of speculations around who will fill Kennedy's seat in the Senate.

But, today the Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick made an announcement that Paul Kirk will be the Senator designate for the state of Massachusetts. Kirk will take office starting tomorrow September 25, 2009. He will be the Interim Senator until the special election on January 19, 2010. Kennedy occupied the seat for 47 years. He took over the seat after his brother John F. Kennedy resigned from the position to take on the post of the President of the United States.

Who is Paul Kirk and why was he chosen?

Kirk had served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). He is the co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, the chairman of the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, and a member of the board of directors of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Kir k was a close collaborator and an assistant to late Senator Kennedy for eight years. President Obama backed his appointment. Interestingly, Kirk was also appointed the executor of Ted Kennedy's estate in his will.

Paul Kirk will be sworn in at 3:15 pm ET tomorrow, according to a top aide to Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Source: firstread.msnbc.msn.com

In remarks following the governor's announcement, Kirk said he hoped to be "a voice and a vote for his causes and his constituents." He promised to retain Kennedy's staff, calling them "talented and hard working." And, pleasing legislators who were reluctant to approve the bill, he pledged not to seek re-election.