George A. Amedore Jr. Explained

George Amedore
State Senate:New York State
District:46th
Term Start2:January 1, 2013
Term End2:January 23, 2013
Predecessor2:Neil Breslin
Successor2:Cecilia Tkaczyk
Term Start:January 3, 2015
Term End:December 31, 2020
Predecessor:Cecilia Tkaczyk
State Assembly3:New York
District3:105th
Term Start3:July 2007
Term End3:December 31, 2012
Predecessor3:Paul Tonko
Successor3:Kieran Lalor
Birth Date:2 April 1969
Birth Place:Niskayuna, New York, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Joelle
Children:3
Residence:Rotterdam, New York, U.S.
Profession:Homebuilder
Signature:George Amedore Signature.png

George A. Amedore Jr. (born April 2, 1969) is an American homebuilder, businessman, and Republican politician. Amedore formerly represented the 46th district in the New York State Senate. The district encompasses all of Montgomery and Greene Counties and portions of Schenectady, Albany, and Ulster Counties.

From 2007 to 2013, Amedore represented the 105th District in the New York State Assembly. At the time, this district included all of Montgomery County and part of Schenectady County.

Early life and career

Amedore was born and raised in Schenectady County. As of 2011, he was Vice President of Amedore Homes, a business founded in 1974 by his father, George Amedore, Sr.[1] In 2007, Amedore and his family business were "featured on ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover -- Home Edition"[2] when they "brought together dozens of subcontractors to build a 3,600-square-foot home at no cost" for a local family.[3]

New York State Assembly

Amedore was first elected to the State Assembly on July 31, 2007 in a special election to fill a vacancy[4] created by Paul Tonko's appointment by Governor Eliot Spitzer to lead the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.[5] Amedore ran against Democrat Ed Kosiur, a Schenectady County legislator.[5]

Amedore was re-elected to the Assembly in 2008 and 2010, defeating Democrats Mark Blanchfield[6] and Angelo Santabarbara,[7] respectively.

New York State Senate

Rather than seeking re-election to the Assembly in 2012, Amedore chose to run for the New York State Senate in District 46. The district was a newly drawn district stretching from Montgomery County to Ulster County. Although there were more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district, Amedore was initially favored because he had represented the entire northern portion of the district for five years.

Amedore trailed Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk on election night, but legal action by Amedore forced a judge to monitor the counting of 6,000 provisional and absentee ballots. The judge threw out 450 votes, enough to give Amedore a 37-vote lead. Amedore was certified as the winner and filed his oath of office in January. However, Tkaczyk appealed, contending that since the ballots were primarily in Democratic-leaning areas, she could potentially win if they were all counted.[8] Eventually, a court ordered 99 ballots in Ulster, Albany, and Greene counties opened. Tkaczyk picked up enough votes in the opened ballots to take an 18-vote lead. Amedore conceded the race on January 18. At the time, according to the Albany Times Union, Amedore was the shortest-tenured senator in the modern history of that chamber.[9]

Amedore ran against then-incumbent Senator Tkaczyk in the 2014 elections and won.[10] He was re-elected in 2016, defeating challenger Sara Niccoli by a wide margin.[11] He again won reelection in 2018.[12]

Prior to Democrats taking the majority, Amedore served as Chair of the Senate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee and the Senate Technology and Innovation Task Force. He also served as Co-Chair of the Heroin Task Force.[13]

Amedore received the 2019 Oil Slick Award from Environmental Advocates for what they deemed to be his consistently-poor environmental record.[14]

In November 2019, Amedore announced that he would not seek re-election to the Senate in 2020.[15]

Personal

Amedore resides in Rotterdam, New York with his wife Joelle. The Amedores have three children: George, Anthony, and Bria. Amedore is a Christian.[16] As of 2011, Amedore was a member of Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God Church in Schenectady.

Election results

George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - CON) ... 14,178
Edward J. Kosiur (DEM - IND - WOR) ... 11,186
George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - CON) ... 29,784
Mark W. Blanchfield (DEM - IND - WOR) ... 18,404
George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - IND - CON) ... 21,438
Angelo L. Santabarbara (DEM - WOR) ... 15,089
George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - IND - CON) ... 63,195
... 63,213
George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - IND - CON) ... 53,553
... 42,009
George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - IND - CON) ... 84,716
Sara Niccoli (DEM - WOR - WEP) ... 50,071
George A. Amedore Jr. (REP - IND - CON) ... 68,259
Pat Courtney Strong (DEM - WOR - WEP) ... 54,116

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us . Amedore Homes . April 12, 2011.
  2. Web site: Protesters decry out-of-district contributions to NY Senate candidate George Amedore (video). Kyle Hughes. DailyFreeman.com. September 7, 2012. January 8, 2018.
  3. Web site: "Extreme Makeover" home almost done . Albany Business Journal . March 8, 2007. January 8, 2018.
  4. News: Major Upset for Democrats: Amedore Wins Special Election. News10.com . August 1, 2007 . January 17, 2018 .
  5. News: Amedore rejects gay marriage . Nelson . Paul . . July 24, 2007 . January 17, 2018 .
  6. News: Amedore turns back Blanchfield . Munger Jr. . Edward . Daily Gazette . November 5, 2008 . January 17, 2018 .
  7. News: Outside funds fuel Assembly races . Stanforth . Lauren . . October 31, 2012 . January 17, 2018 .
  8. Web site: Heading to court, Amedore up 111 after objections. Jimmy. Vielkind. Capitol bureau on. November 27. 2012 at 11:32. PM. 28 November 2012. Capitol Confidential.
  9. Web site: It's Tkaczyk by just 18 votes. Jimmy. Vielkind. 18 January 2013. Times Union.
  10. Web site: 46th NY Senate District: George Amedore ousts Cecilia Tkaczyk. Ariel Zangla. DailyFreeman.com. November 5, 2014. January 8, 2018.
  11. Web site: 46th NY Senate District: Amedore easily defeats Niccoli. Daily Freeman . November 8, 2016. January 8, 2018.
  12. Web site: Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 46 Race - Nov 06, 2018. www.ourcampaigns.com. 2019-02-06.
  13. Web site: About George A. Amedore, Jr.. NY State Senate.
  14. News: Environmental group: Amedore has worst record in Senate. Daily Gazette. Williams. Stephen. October 8, 2019.
  15. News: George Amedore won't seek re-election to state Senate in 2020. Daily Gazette. Cropley. John. November 29, 2019. January 21, 2020.
  16. Web site: George Amedore takes oath of office; vows to fight for upstate communities’ fair share. Kyle Hughes. Troy Record . January 1, 2015. January 8, 2018.
  17. Web site: Special Election Results, 105th Assembly District: July 31, 2007 . . . 2007 . April 13, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120822230454/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2007/Special/2007105ADResults.pdf . August 22, 2012 .
  18. Web site: General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2008 . . . December 4, 2008 . April 13, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120823001135/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/NYSAssembly08.pdf . August 23, 2012 .
  19. Web site: General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2010 . . . December 13, 2010 . April 13, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131218082901/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010Assembly.pdf . December 18, 2013 .
  20. Web site: General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2012 . . . December 13, 2012 . April 13, 2011.
  21. Web site: General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2014 . . . December 13, 2014 . April 13, 2011.
  22. Web site: Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 46 Race - Nov 08, 2016. www.ourcampaigns.com. 2019-02-06.