James L. Emery (July 22, 1931– October 26, 2021) was an American politician from
New York.
Life
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
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,0 ...
's
College of Business Administration.
He entered politics as a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, 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 Legislature
The 184th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7, 1981, to December 31, 1982, during the seventh and eighth years of Hugh Carey's governorship, in Albany.
Backg ...
s. He was Minority Leader from 1979 to 1982.
In 1982, Emery was a contender for the Republican nomination for
Governor of New York, 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
Mario Matthew Cuomo (, ; June 15, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 52nd governor of New York for three terms, from 1983 to 1994. A member of the Democratic Party, Cuomo previously served as ...
and
Alfred DelBello.
In October 1983, Emery was nominated by President
Ronald Reagan as Administrator of the
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. He was confirmed by the
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
in February 1984 for a term of seven years. He remained on the post until 1991 when he was succeeded by
Stanford Parris
Stanford Elmer "Stan" Parris (September 9, 1929 – March 27, 2010) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He represented Virginia's 8th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for six two year terms. He ...
.
He married Elsie McPhail, with whom he had two sons in 1957.
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).
Emery died in October 26, 2021 in
Summerville, South Carolina.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emery, James L.
1931 births
2021 deaths
People from Livonia, New York
Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly
University of Cincinnati alumni
New York (state) sheriffs