The Saratogian
Saratoga
http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/10/10/news/doc4cb1352bc78f1476945994.txt
The race for the 110th Assembly District, which contains parts of Schenectady and Saratoga counties as well as the city of Saratoga Springs and a part of the city of Schenectady, will be waged between 28-year incumbent James Tedisco (R-Saratoga) and retired General Electric engineer BK Keramati (D-Galway).
James Tedisco was first elected to statewide office in 1982 following a nine-year career in education as a guidance counselor, varsity basketball coach and athletic director at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady. He also worked as a special education teacher, resource room instructor and varsity basketball coach at Bethlehem Central High School. He won the seat after facing three primary challengers.
His last race was for the Congressional seat vacated by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, which he lost to Democrat Scott Murphy. He first held public office as a member of the Schenectady City Council, to which he was elected at age 27.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Union College and a graduate degree in special education from the College of Saint Rose.
His current standing committee assignments are Cities, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry and Social Services. He was Assembly minority leader from 2005 to 2009.
His legislative work includes issues regarding animal abuse, tax reform and missing children. He authored a book on missing children which was published in 1996.
In an interview with The Saratogian’s editorial board, Tedisco said he supports a property tax cap and independent redistricting of statewide electoral districts, and he would consider supporting full casino gambling after legislative discussion.
“We do not have a revenue problem — we have a structural spending problem,” he said of the state’s budget woes.
Bharam “BK” Keramati was born in Iran, where he resided until he moved to the U.S. at the age of 18, becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1977. A Galway resident, he is the chairman of the town Democratic Committee.
His last campaign was an unsuccessful state Senate bid in 2008 on the Working Families Party ticket.
From 1976 to 2004 he was an engineer with General Electric Global Research in Schenectady, where he held positions as program manager and project leader. He also participated in the GE mentoring program during his career.
He holds an undergraduate degree from Lafayette College and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Penn State University.
After retirement, he became involved in politics as an activist with the local public interest organizations Citizen Action of New York and Americans for Campaign Reform.
In an interview with The Saratogian’s editorial board, he said New Yorkers are fed up with the status quo and should vote for him because he has been a proven problem solver.
“I really believe Albany is absolutely broken,” he said.
He supports public funding of statewide elections, independent redistricting, investment in renewable energy and reforming the state’s property tax system
Keramati and Tedisco will debate at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Maple Avenue Middle School on Route 9 in Saratoga.
