It’s Official: It’s now State Senator Jim Tedisco

Tedisco to represent residents of 49th NYS Senate District in parts of Saratoga, Schenectady and Herkimer Counties and all of Fulton and Hamilton Counties

Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) was officially sworn-in to office today to serve as the new State Senator for New York’s 49th State Senate District.

 The 49th State Senate District includes parts of Saratoga, Schenectady and Herkimer Counties and all of Fulton and Hamilton Counties.  

Tedisco, who has been a fierce and outspoken advocate for his constituents and taxpayers for many years, has a strong track record of not being afraid to stand up to and get in the faces of some of Albany's most powerful leaders when Upstate's quality of life has been threatened. He succeeds former Senator Hugh Farley who stepped down last year after 40 years of distinguished service to New York State. 

Senator Tedisco has shown a tremendous ability to work across party lines in a bi-partisan, non-partisan fashion to achieve positive results for New Yorkers. He was an original author of the Tax Cap and helped get that passed and was the driving force behind passage of the landmark Buster's Law making animal cruelty against pets a felony because animal abuse is a bridge crime and those who harm pets often go on to hurt people.  In 2014, Tedisco sponsored, promoted and helped pass with 77% of the vote statewide Proposition 2, a constitutional amendment to save millions of tax dollars by stopping the wasteful printing of paper copies of legislation and allow digital copies to suffice on legislators' desks at the Capitol. 

“While my job title has changed and I now have a much bigger district to represent, I’m still going to be the same Jim Tedisco -- as outspoken and independent a fighter for my constituents as ever. I will work hard each and every day to not let people down and continue to be a strong voice for the people of the 49th State Senate District who have given me the honor to be their state Senator,” said Tedisco.

In the coming session, Tedisco will be championing legislation to fight corruption in Albany and work toward a better quality of life for all citizens including advocating for education, jobs and tax relief and efforts to expand our economy by investing in infrastructure programs like his SWAP (Safe Water infrastructure Action Program) to allow local governments to S.W.A.P.-out deteriorating drinking water, storm water, gas lines, sanitary sewer, and dams and water tower infrastructure to protect the safety of our water supply and save tax dollars later. 

Tedisco, who served as a special education teacher, guidance counselor, coach and athletic director for about a decade, was first elected to the State Assembly in 1982.  He previously was a City Councilman in Schenectady.  Tedisco was Assembly Minority Leader from 2005 to 2009 and most recently Assembly Minority Whip.

A graduate of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady and Union College, Tedisco earned his master’s degree in special education from the College of St. Rose. 

Tedisco holds numerous athletic awards and records for his talent on the basketball court including earning the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 25th Anniversary Award, and being elected to the Capital Region Basketball Hall of Fame and as one of the first members of the Union College Athletic Hall of Fame. 

He is a member of numerous civic organizations including Schenectady Rotary Club, Ballston Spa Elks Lodge No. 2619, Sons of Italy, Schenectady Lodge 321, Schenectady Moose Lodge, the Center for Hope in Ballston Spa, Principessa Elena Society in Saratoga Springs, and Union College Alumni Association. 

Tedisco is a resident of Glenville where he lives with his wife, Mary, son Andrew and dog Gracie and cats Glinda and Elphaba.