James L. Seward

 51st District

 917 Legislative Office Building
 Albany, New York 12247
 518-455-3131

 41 South Main Street
 Oneonta, New York 13820
 607-432-5524
 seward@senate.state.ny.us
 

State Senator James L. Seward's Senate service caps a lifelong interest in politics, public affairs, and state government. A native of Otsego County, Senator Seward attended Oneonta public schools and graduated from Hartwick College with a B.A. degree in political science. He also studied at the Nelson Rockefeller Institute of SUNY Albany. In 1999, Hartwick College honored Senator Seward with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

After service on legislative staff, Senator Seward was elected to the Senate in 1986. He was immediately 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 was co-chairman of Governor Pataki's Transition Team on the proposed state assumption of the Long Island Lighting Company.

A highlight of Senator Seward's energy record was enactment of the "Power for Jobs" bill which has resulted in the retention and creation of thousands of jobs in New York, and the 1992 passage of statutory energy planning. 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. Seward initiated calls for legislation to reduce the state's gross receipts tax in order to provide energy tax relief to consumers, resulting in major cuts in the GRT enacted in the 2000-2001 state budget.

In 1999, Seward was appointed by Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno as 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. 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 the state Chamber Alliance and the Business Council. Seward has led the fight in New York against auto insurance fraud, a significant factor in rising auto insurance premiums.

In 1995, he was asked by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to join the Senate leadership team as secretary to the Majority Conference.

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 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.

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.

Seward is a strong 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.

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 have two children. They reside in Milford.

Standing Committee Assignments 2003: Insurance (Chair); Agriculture; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Education; Energy and Telecommunications; Finance; Higher Education; Rules; Social Services.

VOTE IN 2002 GENERAL ELECTION