Jump to content

James L. Seward (New York politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from James L. Seward (New York))

James Seward
Seward in 2019
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 DeFrancisco
Personal details
BornAugust 11, 1951 (1951-08-11)[1]
Oneonta, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 27, 2024 (2024-07-28) (aged 72)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCynthia Seward
ChildrenRyan and Lauren
ResidenceMilford, New York
Alma materHartwick College (B.A.)
WebsiteState Senate Site

James L. Seward (August 11, 1951 – July 27, 2024) was an American politician who 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]

Early life and career

[edit]

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 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) resided in Milford, New York.[5] The Sewards had two grown children, Ryan and Lauren.[6]

State Senate career

[edit]

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]

Death

[edit]

Seward died from cancer on July 27, 2024, at the age of 72.[9][1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Sen. James Seward (R-New York) biography". ny.ala.capwiz.com. New York Library Association. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  2. ^ PUBLISHED January 20, 2020 (September 18, 2017). "Seward Won't Seek Re-Election". Spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved January 21, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "New York State Senator Seward Battles Cancer Again". Wnbf.com. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "State Sen. James Seward not seeking re-election; District includes Schoharie County | the Daily Gazette".
  5. ^ a b c d e "Senator James L. Seward". Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Biography". www.senatorjimseward.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  7. ^ Majority Support Evaded State Senate's Gay Marriage Bill - NY1.com Archived February 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "WKTV News". Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  9. ^ Staff WBNG (July 27, 2024). "Former New York State Senator James L. Seward dies at 72". wbng.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
[edit]
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate
50th District

1987–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Senate
51st District

2003–2020
Succeeded by