St. George challenging state Sen. Seward
Republican state Sen. James Seward is being challenged by Democrat Joyce St. George in the 51st Senate District.
Republican state Sen. James Seward is being challenged by Democrat Joyce St. George in his bid for re-election to the 51st Senate District seat.
Seward, 67, is running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform party lines in the Nov. 6 election.
St. George, 67, is running on the Democratic and Women’s Equality party lines.
The winner will serve a two-year term.
The 51st Senate District stretches from Ulster County west to Tompkins County and north to Herkimer County. Ulster towns are Rochester, Olive, Shandaken, and Hardenbergh. Delaware County towns include Andes, Middletown, and Roxbury, among others.
A Milford resident, Seward is seeking his 17th term in the Senate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hartwick College in 1973. Seward is married and has two children and two grandchildren.
Seward said his focus is on property tax relief, economic development, aid for the neediest schools, resources for local roads and bridges, broadband access, quality health care, and combating the heroin epidemic.
“The best way to attack the financial challenges we face is through economic growth,” Seward said in a statement. “Lowering taxes that stifle business growth is among the first steps we should take to help create jobs.” He said there also needs to be mandate relief and taxpayer-financed state programs intended to create jobs needed to be reviewed, among other efforts.
Seward said he would continue to support an informal agreement among lawmakers to keep state spending increases to no more than 2 percent.
He also said he his committed to ensuring state government is open, transparent and accountable by creating term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs and creating an independent ethics panel to replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, among other changes.
“Access to quality, affordable health care is another key priority,” Seward said. He said he has authored legislation and helped advance a number of laws that have already made a positive difference. But, he said, the proposed New York Health Act — which supporters say would get insurance companies out of healthcare in New York and guarantee care for all — would lead to massive tax increases on the middleclass and drive people and businesses from the state.
A New Kingston resident, St. George is an instructor at SUNY Delhi. She earned a master’s degree from New York University in 1980. St. George is married and has a step-daughter.
St. George said her priorities include health care, the environment, education, farming, and fighting corruption.
“I do support and will vote for the New York Health Act to transition into a new form of health care,” St. George said in a statement. “Our health system is currently collapsing under its own weight and changes needs to be made.” She said she wants to establish a health care system that provides full, affordable and quality health care to all New York residents.
St. George said she is also concerned about the impact of climate change and more needs to be done to provide greater research and intervention to address invasive species, toxic algae blooms, increased flooding, and other consequences of a changing climate. She also said the state needs to eliminate money from politics, particularly lobbyists’ contributions and influence over elected officials.
“As a former corruption investigator, I will commit to campaign finance reform, lobbying reform, and structural changes that will bring greater transparency and integrity to state government,” St. George said.