James L. Seward (New York politician)

James L. Seward (born August 11, 1951)[1] was a Republican New York State Senator from 1987 to 2020.[2] Seward was first elected to represent the 50th District in 1986.[3] In his final term he represented the 51st District, which consists of Schoharie, Otsego, and Cortland Counties, as well as parts of Tompkins, Herkimer, Chenango, Cayuga, Delaware, and Ulster Counties.[4]

This article is about the New York politician. For other people with the same name, see James Seward.
James Seward
Member of the New York Senate
from the 51st district
In office
January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2020
Preceded byThomas W. Libous
Succeeded byPeter Oberacker
Member of the New York Senate
from the 50th district
In office
January 1, 1987 – December 31, 2002
Preceded byLloyd Stephen Riford Jr.
Succeeded byJohn A. DeFrancisco
Personal details
BornAugust 11, 1951 (1951-08-11) (age 72)[1]
Oneonta, New York
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCynthia Seward
ChildrenRyan and Lauren
ResidenceMilford, New York
Alma materHartwick College (B.A.)
WebsiteState Senate Site

Early life and career

Seward was born in Oneonta, New York[1] and attended Oneonta public schools. He went on to Hartwick College in Oneonta and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.[5] He also studied at the Nelson Rockefeller Institute of SUNY Albany.[5][6]

Seward has served as a Milford town justice and as chairman of the Otsego County Republican Committee. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1976, 1980, and 1988, and was also an alternate delegate in 1996. Seward and his wife Cynthia (née Milavec) reside in Milford, New York.[5] The Sewards have two grown children, Ryan and Lauren.[6]

Senate career

Seward was elected to the state senate in 1986 and was appointed chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. In 1999, Seward became chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance.[5]

In 2007, Seward was asked by former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to assume a post in the senate leadership team as majority whip. In 2011, Senator Republican Leader Dean G. Skelos asked him to assume the position of assistant majority leader on conference operations.[5]

Seward voted against a same-sex marriage bill on December 2, 2009; the bill was defeated.[7] He voted against legislation allowing same-sex marriage in New York again in 2011, but the bill was passed in a narrow 33-29 vote.[8]

In November 2019, Seward announced that he was being treated for a recurrence of bladder cancer.[3] In January 2020, he announced that he would not seek re-election.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Sen. James Seward (R-New York) biography". ny.ala.capwiz.com. New York Library Association. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  2. PUBLISHED 12:04 PM ET Jan. 20, 2020 (2017-09-18). "Seward Won't Seek Re-Election". Spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  3. "New York State Senator Seward Battles Cancer Again". Wnbf.com. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  4. "State Sen. James Seward not seeking re-election; District includes Schoharie County | the Daily Gazette".
  5. "Senator James L. Seward". Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  6. "Biography". www.senatorjimseward.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  7. Majority Support Evaded State Senate's Gay Marriage Bill - NY1.com Archived 2015-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "WKTV News". Retrieved 29 April 2017.
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