Amedore announces he will not seek re-election

ALBANY — State Sen. George Amedore, R-46, announced Friday he will not seek election to another term in office in 2020.

“After careful consideration and reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election to the New York State Senate in 2020,” Amedore said in a statement Friday afternoon. “I truly believe in public service and giving back to the community, and it has been a great honor to serve the residents of the 46th Senate District. As I have said in the past, I did not intend to be a career politician, and at this time, this is the right decision for my family and me.”

Amedore, 50, represents the 46th State Senate district, which encompasses all of Greene and Montgomery counties, and portions of Albany, Schenectady and Ulster counties.

He was elected to the state Senate in 2014 and has served three terms. Prior to his election to the Senate he served in the state Assembly after winning a special election in 2007. He served in the state Assembly until 2013.

Amedore is a second-generation owner of the family business, Amedore Homes, based in Albany.

Family concerns were the catalyst for Amedore’s decision not to run for re-election, he said.

“There are needs and demands from my family, and that is what really prompted this decision,” Amedore said in an interview Friday. “I love public service and have been honored to serve the constituents. It was a tough decision but it was the right thing to do at this particular time.”

Amedore saluted his staff for their work while he was in office, and over the past 12 years, both in the state Senate and the Assembly, he said he has gotten the greatest satisfaction out of helping the people of his district.

“I have been most proud of having a great staff and people who really understood the reason why I sought office, and that was for public service and to give back, and being a public servant — putting the interests of others ahead of your own,” Amedore said. “Whether it is helping people with a health issue, or with substance abuse issues, or a small business trying to go to market with their business plan and they need help with licensing, or whether it’s the disaster issues that have happened with storms like [Hurricane] Irene and helping people who became homeless and lost all their belongings, there are issues both large and small that made me a better person.”

“I have been humbled by being able to help individuals in their lives and to have made a difference,” Amedore added.

His current term will end Dec. 31, 2020, and Amedore said he will remain in office until that time.

“I will continue to dedicate my time to servicing the people of the district and standing up for their needs. I will make sure the 46th Senate District gets its fair share,” he said. “That will be my focus and where my attention will be.”

He also encouraged others to be active in their communities.

“I think people need to be involved and have public service part of their life — whether it’s joining the military, or a volunteer fire department, or at the public library, everyone should have civic involvement and help the community be more united,” Amedore said.

He was born and raised in Schenectady County and lives in Rotterdam with his wife, Joelle. They raised three children, George, 28; Anthony, 26; and Bria, 23.

Brent Bogardus, elections commissioner for the Greene County Board of Elections, said Amedore has served the district well.

“Sen. Amedore was an excellent representative for us here in Greene County and in the Senate district. He was very reflective of who we are and the values we share,” Bogardus said. “He has done a great job for us in Albany, and obviously I am disappointed to see him leave, but I had a private conversation with George about a week ago when he told me what he was planning to do and I understand and respect his reasons and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

He said the Republican Party will work on identifying a candidate to replace Amedore in the state Senate.

“The senator has just advised the county chairs and other key players,” Bogardus said. “We will be putting together a search committee and open up the process for people who are interested in running so we can find the best candidate we can.”

Word of Amedore’s announcement caught one of Greene County’s top Republicans, Legislature Chairman Patrick Linger, R-New Baltimore, by surprise.

“I hate to see him leave,” Linger said Friday. “Sen. Amedore has always been very responsive to Greene County and to New Baltimore, which I represent.”