Republican enters race to succeed Sen. Seward
Republican Peter Oberacker, a businessman and Otsego County legislator, announced Friday that he’ll run for the state Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican James Seward.
“Community service and giving back has always been a priority to me,” Oberacker said in a press release announcing his bid for the 51st Senate District seat. “Serving as senator ... feels like a natural step and one that I am excited and ready to take on.”
Seward, R-Milford, announced on Jan. 20 that he’ll step down at the end of 2020 after serving 17 twoyear terms in the Senate. Seward has been battling bladder cancer and cited the illness in announcing his decision not to seek reelection.
Democrat Jim Barber, a farmer who lives in Middleburgh, announced in December that he’ll run for the seat. Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, said he considered running for the Senate seat but ultimately decided not to.
The 51st Senate District stretches from Ulster County west to Tompkins County and north to Herkimer County. In Ulster County, it includes the towns of Rochester, Olive, Shandaken and Hardenburgh.
Oberacker was elected to the Otsego County Board of Representatives in 2015. Prior to that, he served as town of Maryland supervisor and as a Town Board member.
Oberacker’s announcement said he grew up working in his family’s meat market and then went on to a career in product research, development and implementation in the food industry. In 2007, he cre- ated Form Tech Solutions and built it into a multimillion-dollar business, working with companies around the world to develop and incorporate new products and then make them better, safer and healthier, according to the announcement.
In 2017, Oberacker moved the company’s headquarters from Texas to his home community of Schenevus, a hamlet in the Otsego County town of Maryland.
“I believe that my experience in business and public service allows me to continue the great work of our senator, Jim Seward,” Oberacker said in a prepared statement.
Oberacker is a fire department and EMS volunteer and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He is a graduate of Schenevus High School and SUNY Delhi.
Oberacker and his wife, Shannon, have two adult children.