From: Seward Communications [sewardcommunications@hotmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:29 PM

To: Seward Communications

Subject: SENATOR SEWARD ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                

CONTACT:  JEFF BISHOP – 518-225-0886

E-mail: sewardcommunications@hotmail.com

SEWARD ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID

Files nearly 4,000 nominating signatures for three party lines 

ONEONTA, 07/10/14 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) has filed nearly 4,000 signatures on nominating petitions for re-election as state senator representing the 51^st senatorial district.

“The outpouring of support from the people who live and work throughout my nine-county district is truly gratifying,” said Seward.  “I feel privileged to represent the 51^st senate district and look forward to continuing to stand up for the issues and concerns that people discuss with me on a daily basis.”

Seward filed 3,099 signatures for the Republican party nomination, 605 for the Independence party nod and 171 for the Conservative party designation.

“The priorities so many of my constituents have long held dear are the priorities now being embraced in Albany.  Property tax relief, innovative economic development incentives, additional aid to improve our infrastructure, increased assistance for the neediest schools, new support for veterans, and help for our farmers are all among the recent wins. 

“I have also worked to end the Capitol’s notorious reputation for dysfunction.  As a member of the senate leadership team, I have played a key role in crafting four straight on-time budgets.  The bi-partisan spending plans erased many of the taxes and fees imposed when state government was under one-party rule, and restored a sense of fiscal responsibility to the state budget.

“While the accomplishments are many, there is more work to be done.  I am proud to have played an integral role in ushering in landmark victories and look forward to continuing to enact the changes we need.  My experience and vision will ensure that the real challenges and concerns people face daily take precedence in Albany.”

Seward was first elected to the state senate in 1986 and has been a strong advocate for the communities he represents.  He is known for championing first responders’ needs, helping local governments, and partnering with local economic development groups and communities to promote business growth and job creation.  Seward has also ensured that communities he represents are not left out in funding for economic development, infrastructure and quality of life enhancements.

As chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, Seward has promoted legislation to expand the availability and accessibility of health insurance, winning laws that help small business owners and expand coverage for young, uninsured individuals.  Seward has also sponsored health insurance reforms that will provide premium relief and extend health insurance to volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

Seward has served as a member of the Senate Education Committee and has consistently fought for the needs of upstate rural school students.  This year Seward’s strong advocacy helped lead to a $1.1 billion increase in school aid that focuses on the neediest districts and helps greatly reduce the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) which is causing major financial stress.  He also helped enact critical reforms to address the State Education Department’s flawed roll-out of the Common Core standards.

Seward has fought for the agricultural industry as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, winning aid for the state’s dairy farmers and helping develop and fund life-saving farm safety programs.  This year, he focused on the next generation of farmers helping enact several initiatives designed to preserve family farming.  A long time proponent of the New York Rollover Protection System Rebate Program, Seward successfully fought to have funding restored to the ROPS program when it was cut from the state budget proposal in each of the last four years.

Senator Seward is also playing a pivotal role in the state’s fight against heroin and opioid abuse.  As a member of a special senate task force to deal with this epidemic, Senator Seward brought together experts and community members to discuss the deadly scourge.  His bill to improve insurance coverage for those in need was a key component of a comprehensive package trumpeted as one of the top accomplishments of the 2014 legislative session.

“Even with the recent string of legislative wins, there is still work to be done.  Ending costly state mandates to our local governments and small businesses, accelerating the phase-out of unwarranted taxes, solidifying a more equitable school aid distribution formula while totally eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment, further investing in our upstate roads and bridges, advancing economic development incentives that will attract new businesses and bolster those already loyal to New York, and, above all, delivering sustained property tax relief for our middle-class homeowners top my agenda for 2015-16.

“I look forward to maintaining and growing the strong partnerships I have developed with local officials, community leaders, and residents as we work together to build on recent successes and advance new initiatives to continue to meet the needs of those who live and work here in our part of upstate New York,” Seward concluded.

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