Seward Announces

Bid For A 16^th Term 

2 Democratic Challengers Primarying

ONEONTA – State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, today filed nearly 3,800 signatures on nominating petitions to seek his 16^th term in the state Legislature’s Upper House.

In announcing he is running, the veteran senator ticked off his priorities: “property tax relief, economic development, aid for our neediest schools, resources for our local roads and bridges, and the crushing heroin epidemic.“

He is being challenged this year by two Democrats, attorney Audrey Dunning of Ilion and Jermaine Bagnall-Graham, Sherburne, who works for Bassett Healthcare Network.  They face each other in a primary Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Raised in Colliersville, Seward ran for office even before he graduated from Hartwick College, and soon was a Senate aide in Albany.  He was county Republican chair by his early 30s, and was first elected to the Senate at age 34.

As a member of state Senate leadership, he noted the achievement of “six straight on-time budget which hold the line on spending while meeting local needs. “  That approach needs to be maintained going forward by maintain GOP control.

“Many of the positive steps taken in recent years followed the devastating 2009-10 term when Albany fell under one party rule and New York City-centric values ruled the Capitol,” Seward said.  “Everyone was treated to higher taxes while state government spending skyrocketed.  This is an era we cannot afford to revisit.   Maintaining checks and balances in state government is critical for the protection of upstate.

Seward was first elected to the state Senate in 1986, making him one of the lawmakers in Albany with the most seniority.  He chairs the Senate Insurance Committee, and is a long-time member of the Senate Education Committee, playing a role this past year in $1.5 billion in additional school aid and removing the Gap Elimination Adjustment that had fozen aid to schools since 2010.

He has been active in developing programs to combat the state’s heroin epidemic, hosting two meeting of the Senate/House Joint Opioid Task Force at SUNY Oneonta.  He supported improved insurance coverage for people in need, stepped up prevention and education efforts, and help to law enforcement.

Seward battled a cancer scare this year, undergoing an operation in March.   But he was back at his desk by May 31, after his first public appearance the Friday before at the tribute to Niles Eggleston, the author and community leader, at Milford.

He and his wife Cindy, who reside in Milford, have two grown children, and two granddaughters.