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James L. Emery

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James L. Emery
Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
In office
February 1984 – February 1991
Preceded byDavid W. Oberlin
Succeeded byStanford Parris
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1965 – December 31, 1982
Preceded byKenneth R. Willard
Succeeded byRichard C. Wesley
Constituency1967-1982 136th District
1966-1967 149th District
1965-1966 Livingston County
Personal details
Born(1931-07-22)July 22, 1931
Livonia, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 2021(2021-10-26) (aged 90)
Summerville, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children2
EducationUniversity of Cincinnati

James L. Emery (July 22, 1931– October 26, 2021) was an American politician from New York.

Life

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He was born on July 22, 1931, in Lakeville, Livingston County, New York. He attended Livonia Central School. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati's College of Business Administration.[1]

He entered politics as a Republican, and was Sheriff of Livingston County.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1965 to 1982, sitting in the 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd and 184th New York State Legislatures. He was Minority Leader from 1979 to 1982.

In 1982, Emery was a contender for the Republican nomination for Governor of New York,[2] but eventually was nominated for Lieutenant Governor of New York on the Republican and Conservative tickets, with Lewis Lehrman for Governor. They were defeated by the Democratic and Liberal nominees Mario Cuomo and Alfred DelBello.

In October 1983, Emery was nominated by President Ronald Reagan as Administrator of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.[3] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 1984 for a term of seven years.[4] He remained on the post until 1991 when he was succeeded by Stanford Parris.

He married Elsie McPhail, with whom he had two sons in 1957.[5]

His second wife Jill Houghton Emery (born 1941) ran in 1984 for Congress in the 34th District, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat Stan Lundine. He was later married to Sandra Johnson Emery (born 1946).[6]

Emery died in October 26, 2021 in Summerville, South Carolina.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ New York Red Book (1970–1971; pg. 180)
  2. ^ EMERY DECIDES TO STAY IN RACE TO BE GOVERNOR by Maurice Carroll, in the New York Times on June 16, 1982
  3. ^ Reagan Selects Emery For St. Lawrence Post in the New York Times on October 15, 1983
  4. ^ EX-LEGISLATOR USING OLD SKILLS IN SEAWAY JOB by Michael Oreskes, in the New York Times on November 5, 1985
  5. ^ "Join Ancestry®". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  6. ^ UPSTATE CONGRESSMAN BATTLES TO KEEP SEAT bu Frank Lynn, in the New York Times on October 18, 1984
  7. ^ Kelly, Brian (November 4, 2021). "Former Seaway administrator James Emery dies, had frequent north country presence". NNY360. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
Livingston County

1965
Succeeded by
district abolished
Preceded by
new district
New York State Assembly
149th District

1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Assembly
136th District

1967–1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader in the New York State Assembly
1979–1982
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York
1982
Succeeded by
E. Michael Kavanagh
1986