Former Congresswoman Kathy Hochul has taken a postition with M& T Bank as their Vice President of Government Relations.

Hochul, a  Democrat is a  former Hamburg town board memeber and Erie County Clerk, who was defeated for re-election to  the 27th dist. of Congress in 2011. Earlier that year she won a special election to replace Cong. Chris Lee in the 26th Congressional Dist., marking the first time that seat had been held by a Democrat in over 50 years.

She began her career as an attorney and aide to then Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D- Pinders Corners) , and later to  Buffalo-area Cong. John LaFalce (D-Buffalo).

“Kathy brings a broad range of government knowledge and experience to M&T Bank,” said M&T Bank President Mark J. Czarnecki in a prepared statement.

 “... it’s important for M&T Bank to maintain continuing dialogue with our local, state and federal government leaders to help them understand our vital role in creating jobs and economic growth in communities we serve," Czarnecki said.