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Honoring Otsego County’s 34-Year Senator

JAMES L. SEWARD
State Senator, Otsego County,
Jan. 1, 1986 – Dec. 31, 2020

►BORN on Aug. 11, 1951, in Oneonta, the youngest of four children. Raised in Milford.
► EDUCATED in Oneonta city schools, graduating in 1973 from Hartwick College, a
political science major.
► MARRIED former Cindy Milavec in 1973 at Schenevus Methodist Church.
► FAMILY includes son Ryan, b. 1978 (and wife Kelly), daughter Lauren, b. 1984; two granddaughters, Nora and Vivian.
► SERVED as Milford Town Justice and Republican County Chairman, attending Republican National Conventions in 1976, 1980 and 1988..
► AIDE to state legislators, including state Sen. Steve Reifert, Auburn, whom he
succeeded, winning election
to his first term in 1986.
► REELECTED 16 times, rising
into leadership positive, including chairing the Standing Committee on Insurance and Energy & Telecommunications Committee, serving as majority whip and assistant majority leader.
► HONORED many times, most recently with the Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Citizen of the Year Award in November from the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce.
► RETIRED to accolades from appreciate constituents on Dec. 31, 2020.

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