James L. Seward (New York)
Encyclopedia
James L. Seward is a Republican New York State Senator
since 1987. Seward was first elected to represent the 50th District in 1986, and due to redistricting, is currently representing the 51st District. The 51st is rural district, comprising Greene
, Schoharie
, Otsego
, Herkimer
, Cortland
counties, as well as portions of Tompkins
and Chenango
counties (51st District Map).
and attended Oneonta public schools. He went onto Hartwick College
in Oneonta and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in political science. Hartwick would honor Seward with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1999.
Senator Seward was elected to the state senate in 1986 and was appointed chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, where he developed a reputation as a skilled negotiator and effective spokesman for the senate majority on statewide energy issues.
He won enactment of the "Power for Jobs" program, which has helped retain and create thousands of jobs in New York,. Seward worked to ensure that the state's telecommunications industry remained competitive, and introduced legislation to restrict minors' access to electronic obscenity. In 1990, he negotiated key reforms in the 1986 Low Level Radioactive Waste Siting Law.
In 1999, Seward became chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance. Seward's priorities have included tax relief for this vital segment of New York's financial services industry which employs many New Yorkers, health insurance coverage and reform, and the writing of auto and property/casualty policies in a free, but fair, market that is sensitive to consumers' needs. Seward has been fighting to increase the availability of health insurance for the uninsured and to reduce pressure on health insurance costs for workers and small business owners. He won passage of legislation in 2002 that extends group health insurance offered by chambers of commerce to sole proprietors of businesses, a priority of associations representing both large and small employers.
Seward won statewide recognition for his "Freedom Plan" to match simpler, lower cost health insurance policies with federally authorized health savings account
s. The legislation is considered an innovative approach to addressing the rising cost of health insurance for employers and their employees. Seward has led the fight in New York against auto insurance fraud, a significant factor in rising auto insurance premiums. He is an active participant and nationally recognized leader in the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL).
In 2007, he was asked by Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno to assume a key post in the senate leadership team as majority whip.
As chairman of the Senate Majority Task Force on Volunteer Emergency Services, Seward was instrumental in establishing a low interest loan program for the capital needs and equipment purchases of voluntary fire departments and emergency squads in 1994. He has won funding increases for the program and for the state fire academy in order to improve training for firefighters. He has also served as chairman of the Senate Task Force on State and Local Emergency Preparedness following the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington.
Senator Seward has been a consistent advocate for education, securing state aid for local districts to offset rising taxes and to support technology and special education initiatives within his schools. He strongly supported enactment of the STAR school tax relief program and has championed property tax relief.
Seward is an advocate for more jobs and business growth. In his district, Seward is a partner in local economic development. He works to save and create jobs in his district through state grants and loans to businesses and partnerships with local economic development agencies and local governments.
Responsiveness to his constituents through personal contact and district office hours is one of Senator Seward's strengths and his highest priority. He has been recognized for his advocacy and responsiveness by the Farm Bureau, the United Mine Workers, local chambers of commerce and many community organizations.
Senator Seward is a former Milford town justice and former chairman of the Otsego County Republican Committee. He was a delegate to the 1976, 1980, and 1988 Republican National Conventions and an alternate delegate in 1996.
Long active in community and civic affairs, Senator Seward is a director of Wilber National Bank, a trustee of Glimmerglass Opera, serves on the boards of directors of Pathfinder Village and the Catskill Symphony, and is a member of the Milford United Methodist Church.
Senator Seward and his wife Cynthia (née Milavec) reside in Milford.
Seward was re-elected most recently on November 4, 2008.
with his wife Cynthia (née Milavec). They have two grown children: Ryan and Lauren.
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
since 1987. Seward was first elected to represent the 50th District in 1986, and due to redistricting, is currently representing the 51st District. The 51st is rural district, comprising Greene
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, Schoharie
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, Otsego
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
, Herkimer
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
, Cortland
Cortland County, New York
Cortland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, named after Federico Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at Kingston that wrote the first New York State Constitution in 1777, and first lieutenant governor of the state. The county seat is Cortland...
counties, as well as portions of Tompkins
Tompkins County, New York
Tompkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,564. The county seat is Ithaca, and the county is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community...
and Chenango
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
counties (51st District Map).
Early life and career
Seward is was born in Oneonta, New YorkOneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
and attended Oneonta public schools. He went onto Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
in Oneonta and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science. Hartwick would honor Seward with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1999.
Senate career
Senator Seward voted against gay marriage on December 2, 2009; the bill was defeated.Senator Seward was elected to the state senate in 1986 and was appointed chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, where he developed a reputation as a skilled negotiator and effective spokesman for the senate majority on statewide energy issues.
He won enactment of the "Power for Jobs" program, which has helped retain and create thousands of jobs in New York,. Seward worked to ensure that the state's telecommunications industry remained competitive, and introduced legislation to restrict minors' access to electronic obscenity. In 1990, he negotiated key reforms in the 1986 Low Level Radioactive Waste Siting Law.
In 1999, Seward became chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance. Seward's priorities have included tax relief for this vital segment of New York's financial services industry which employs many New Yorkers, health insurance coverage and reform, and the writing of auto and property/casualty policies in a free, but fair, market that is sensitive to consumers' needs. Seward has been fighting to increase the availability of health insurance for the uninsured and to reduce pressure on health insurance costs for workers and small business owners. He won passage of legislation in 2002 that extends group health insurance offered by chambers of commerce to sole proprietors of businesses, a priority of associations representing both large and small employers.
Seward won statewide recognition for his "Freedom Plan" to match simpler, lower cost health insurance policies with federally authorized health savings account
Health savings account
A health savings account is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan . The funds contributed to an account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. Unlike a flexible spending account...
s. The legislation is considered an innovative approach to addressing the rising cost of health insurance for employers and their employees. Seward has led the fight in New York against auto insurance fraud, a significant factor in rising auto insurance premiums. He is an active participant and nationally recognized leader in the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL).
In 2007, he was asked by Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno to assume a key post in the senate leadership team as majority whip.
As chairman of the Senate Majority Task Force on Volunteer Emergency Services, Seward was instrumental in establishing a low interest loan program for the capital needs and equipment purchases of voluntary fire departments and emergency squads in 1994. He has won funding increases for the program and for the state fire academy in order to improve training for firefighters. He has also served as chairman of the Senate Task Force on State and Local Emergency Preparedness following the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington.
Senator Seward has been a consistent advocate for education, securing state aid for local districts to offset rising taxes and to support technology and special education initiatives within his schools. He strongly supported enactment of the STAR school tax relief program and has championed property tax relief.
Seward is an advocate for more jobs and business growth. In his district, Seward is a partner in local economic development. He works to save and create jobs in his district through state grants and loans to businesses and partnerships with local economic development agencies and local governments.
Responsiveness to his constituents through personal contact and district office hours is one of Senator Seward's strengths and his highest priority. He has been recognized for his advocacy and responsiveness by the Farm Bureau, the United Mine Workers, local chambers of commerce and many community organizations.
Senator Seward is a former Milford town justice and former chairman of the Otsego County Republican Committee. He was a delegate to the 1976, 1980, and 1988 Republican National Conventions and an alternate delegate in 1996.
Long active in community and civic affairs, Senator Seward is a director of Wilber National Bank, a trustee of Glimmerglass Opera, serves on the boards of directors of Pathfinder Village and the Catskill Symphony, and is a member of the Milford United Methodist Church.
Senator Seward and his wife Cynthia (née Milavec) reside in Milford.
Seward was re-elected most recently on November 4, 2008.
Personal life
Senator Seward lives in Milford, New YorkMilford, New York
Milford may refer to two municipalities in Otsego County, New York in the United States:*Milford , New York*Milford , New York, located entirely within the town...
with his wife Cynthia (née Milavec). They have two grown children: Ryan and Lauren.
External links
- New York State Senate: James L. Seward Seward's New York State Senate site
- James L. Seward Sewards's personal senate site