Alexander Treadwell
Encyclopedia
Alexander F. "Sandy" Treadwell
(born March 25, 1946, London
, England
, UK) is an American politician who is a longtime Republican Party political leader in New York
. He is currently New York's National Committeeman on the Republican National Committee
. In 2008, he was defeated in the race to represent New York's 20th congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
.
, and a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His father was a brigadier
in the British Army
.
He was a sports journalist who wrote for Sports Illustrated
, and a book on marathon running. He became active in the Republican Party in Essex County, New York
. His service included being a committeeman, town chairman, the chairman of the county's Republican Party, and vice chairman of the state Republican Party under Chairman Bill Powers
.
Treadwell is a cousin of Jane Forbes Clark, chairwoman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and vice-president of the Cooperstown, New York
and Manhattan-based Clark Foundation.
Alexander Treadwell served in the Army National Guard.
appointed Treadwell Secretary of State of New York
. As Secretary, Treadwell was active in reorganizing the Department of State in order to streamline operations and improve efficiency. He reduced the agency's workforce without layoffs while holding the line on spending. He was also active in local government issues statewide. The Department of State, New York State's oldest agency, had 850 employees and an annual budget of $110 million during Treadwell's leadership.
and the nomination of the state's first Latina candidate, Judge Dora Irizarry
, who was the 2002 nominee for state attorney general
. In 2004, Treadwell was the host state chairman of the Republican National Convention that nominated President George W. Bush
and Vice President Dick Cheney
for re-election. The party also experienced losses during his tenure, including county executive seats in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, four state Senate seats, five state Assembly seats and two seats in Congress.
Howard Mills as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate against Senator Chuck Schumer over the would-be primary candidate Michael Benjamin
. Benjamin publicly accused Treadwell and Governor George Pataki
of trying to muscle him out of the Senate race and undermine the democratic process. Mills, who was nominated after numerous other potential candidates turned the race down, would go on to lose in the largest landslide in state history. Conservative commentator George Marlin has since criticized Treadwell, labeling him a "liberal elitist".
for reelection, but he did not file to do so. In April 2008, he filed the necessary paperwork to run for Congress to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand
, who had defeated Sweeney in the 2006 election.
Treadwell signed Americans For Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge and ran on the promise that he will never vote to increase taxes on individuals or businesses. He was defeated by Kirsten Gillibrand
, who was re-elected with 62% of the vote. The campaign was extraordinarily expensive, with Treadwell spending $5.5 million, mostly from his own fortune.
; his family's farm lies at the south end of the hamlet.
(born March 25, 1946, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK) is an American politician who is a longtime Republican Party political leader in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is currently New York's National Committeeman on the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
. In 2008, he was defeated in the race to represent New York's 20th congressional district
New York's 20th congressional district
The 20th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern New York. It includes all or parts of Columbia, Dutchess, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties. It includes the...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Life
Treadwell is the grandson of a founding executive of General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, and a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His father was a brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
He was a sports journalist who wrote for Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, and a book on marathon running. He became active in the Republican Party in Essex County, New York
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
. His service included being a committeeman, town chairman, the chairman of the county's Republican Party, and vice chairman of the state Republican Party under Chairman Bill Powers
William Powers (politician)
William Powers is a New York Republican Party political activist. Before becoming the Republican state chairman, Powers was the chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee....
.
Treadwell is a cousin of Jane Forbes Clark, chairwoman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and vice-president of the Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
and Manhattan-based Clark Foundation.
Alexander Treadwell served in the Army National Guard.
New York Secretary of State
In 1995, Gov. George PatakiGeorge Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
appointed Treadwell Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
. As Secretary, Treadwell was active in reorganizing the Department of State in order to streamline operations and improve efficiency. He reduced the agency's workforce without layoffs while holding the line on spending. He was also active in local government issues statewide. The Department of State, New York State's oldest agency, had 850 employees and an annual budget of $110 million during Treadwell's leadership.
Chairman of New York State Republican Party
In 2001, Pataki appointed Treadwell as the Chairman of the New York Republican Party. His tenure saw the re-election of a Republican mayor of New York City, the 2002 reelection of Pataki and Lt. Gov. Mary DonohueMary Donohue
Mary O’Connor Donohue is a Judge of the New York Court of Claims and a former Lieutenant Governor of New York State. She was first elected lieutenant governor in 1998 and reelected 2002 on a ticket with Gov. George Pataki.-Teaching and legal career:...
and the nomination of the state's first Latina candidate, Judge Dora Irizarry
Dora Irizarry
Dora L. Irizarry is a Federal Judge in New York. She was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, on January 26, 1955, and was raised in the Bronx in New York City. She attended the Bronx High School of Science and went on to graduate from Yale University in 1976 and Columbia University Law School in...
, who was the 2002 nominee for state attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
. In 2004, Treadwell was the host state chairman of the Republican National Convention that nominated President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
for re-election. The party also experienced losses during his tenure, including county executive seats in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, four state Senate seats, five state Assembly seats and two seats in Congress.
2004 US Senate Race
In 2004, Treadwell faced controversy after he supported AssemblymanNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
Howard Mills as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate against Senator Chuck Schumer over the would-be primary candidate Michael Benjamin
Michael Benjamin Bonheur
Michael Benjamin was born Michael Benjamin Bonheur in New York City, New York, United States. Benjamin works as a private investor focusing on Internet companies...
. Benjamin publicly accused Treadwell and Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
of trying to muscle him out of the Senate race and undermine the democratic process. Mills, who was nominated after numerous other potential candidates turned the race down, would go on to lose in the largest landslide in state history. Conservative commentator George Marlin has since criticized Treadwell, labeling him a "liberal elitist".
2008 Congressional Candidacy
Treadwell stepped down as state chairman in 2004 to become national committeeman. In 2006 some speculated that he would challenge Republican Congressman John E. SweeneyJohn E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney is a politician from the U.S. state of New York. A Republican, he represented New York's 20th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 1999 to January 2007. He was defeated for reelection in November 2006 by Democrat Kirsten...
for reelection, but he did not file to do so. In April 2008, he filed the necessary paperwork to run for Congress to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
, who had defeated Sweeney in the 2006 election.
Treadwell signed Americans For Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge and ran on the promise that he will never vote to increase taxes on individuals or businesses. He was defeated by Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
, who was re-elected with 62% of the vote. The campaign was extraordinarily expensive, with Treadwell spending $5.5 million, mostly from his own fortune.
Home
Treadwell is a resident of Westport, New YorkWestport, New York
Westport is a town in Essex County, New York, United States overlooking Lake Champlain. The population was 1,362 at the 2000 census.The Town of Westport is on the eastern border of the county and is south of Plattsburgh and south of Montreal. Westport is inside the Adirondack Park.Westport is...
; his family's farm lies at the south end of the hamlet.