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American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Teresa R. Sayward (born 1944/1945)[1] was a member of the New York State Assembly for Willsboro (the 113th district), first elected in 2002. She is a Republican.[4]
Teresa Sayward | |
---|---|
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 113th Assembly district | |
In office 2003–2013 | |
Preceded by | Elizabeth Little |
Succeeded by | Tony Jordan |
Town supervisor of Willsboro | |
In office 1992–2002 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1944 or 1945 (age 79–80)[1] |
Political party | Republican |
Other political affiliations | Independence[2][3] |
Spouse | Kenneth Sayward[4] |
Relations | Beatrice Riley (mother)[5] |
Children | Four |
Residence | Willsboro, New York |
Occupation | Former dairy farmer[4] |
Website | Official website |
Sayward was a dairy farmer with her husband Ken for 16 years until 1988, when they sold their farm due it becoming unprofitable.[6] She has also worked as a real estate agent, an antiques dealer and as an interior decorator.[4] After leaving dairy farming she stood for election as the Republican candidate for town supervisor of Willsboro, winning on her second attempt in 1992.[1][4]
Sayward served as town supervisor for the Town of Willsboro for 11 years and as chairwoman of the Essex County Board of Supervisors.[4] She was awarded the title of "Outstanding Local Official" for 2002 by the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board.[7]
Sayward was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2002, replacing Elizabeth Little (who ran for State Senate that year)[4] in a six-way contest in which she won 52% of the vote.[8] Sayward had narrowly beaten Thomas Scozzafava to the Republican nomination,[9] and he stood against her as a Conservative candidate.[10] Sayward spent $112,000 on the campaign.[11] In 2006 she became the secretary of the Assembly Republican Conference.[12]
She ran unopposed, as a Republican with the endorsement of the Independence Party of New York, in the November 2008[2] and November 2010 general elections.[3][13] Sayward retired from the Assembly at the end of 2012.[14]
In 2012, she supported Democratic President Barack Obama for re-election.[15]
Sayward favored lowering health care costs, workers' compensation costs, and local property taxes.[4] She argued for extensive state budget cuts.[16] She supported Governor David Paterson's 2009 proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in New York[17] and gave an emotional speech in the State Assembly that helped pass a bill for legalization.[18] Her elder son Glenn is gay, and she views gay marriage as a civil rights issue;[19][17] she received significant campaign donations from out of state as a result of her position,[20] but lost the endorsement of the Conservative Party of New York State.[21] She campaigned nationally for gay rights[19] and became involved with the Log Cabin Republicans.[22] She supported her friend Dede Scozzafava's 2009 campaign for Congress.[23] She is a member of the National Rifle Association.[24]
Sayward and her husband Kenneth[4] have four children: Glenn (b. 1961),[19][21] Yvonne (b. 1963/1964),[6] Kyle (1969—2007),[25] and Wendy (b. 1972/1973).[6]
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