Claudia Tenney
Encyclopedia
Claudia Tenney is an American
lawyer, publisher, commentator and politician who was elected in 2010 to represent the 115th Assembly District of the New York State Assembly
. Tenney had served her predecessor, former Assemblyman David Townsend
, from 2003-2009 as his chief of staff and legal counsel. Her district comprises parts of Oswego County
and Oneida County
.
Tenney is a native of New Hartford, New York
and the daughter of former New York State Supreme Court Justice
John R. Tenney. She graduated from Colgate University
and the Taft College of Law
at the University of Cincinnati
.
Early in her career, she was the only American employed by the Consulate General of Yugoslavia
. She acted as intermediary between ABC Sports and the Yugoslavian government leading up to the 1984 Winter Olympics
in Sarajevo
.
From 1996 through 2004, she established Tenney Media Group in Clinton
, New York
where she served as publisher and corporate counsel. Tenney Media Group published and printed free community newspapers founded by her parents and grandparents: eight weekly newspaper editions known as the Mid-York Weekly & Pennysaver with a total direct mailed circulation of over 100,000 households throughout three counties in Central New York. The original Mid-York Weekly’s roots date back to the early 19th century and it remains one of the oldest continuously running weekly newspapers in the country.
Tenney also maintains an active private law practice based in Clinton. Prior to opening her private practice, she was a partner at the Utica
area law firm of Groben, Gilroy, Oster and Saunders. She is currently a co-owner and legal counsel to Mid-York Press
, a commercial printing and manufacturing firm started by her mother’s family in 1946. Mid-York Press employs nearly eighty people in the Chenango County
community of Sherburne
.
In January 2001, she began serving as co-host and moderator of “Common Cents”, a radio and television program that airs weekly across Oneida and most of Herkimer County
. In February 2010, Claudia began co-hosting “First Look” on WIBX 950 Radio
.
Tenney also worked for the State Assembly as a staff member to Assemblyman David Townsend, who announced in 2010 he was a candidate for Oneida County Sheriff. Tenney defeated Oneida County Legislator George Joseph in a Republican primary in September for a chance to represent the seat. With no Democratic or other opponents in the November 2010 general election
, Tenney became the district’s first assemblywoman.
Tenney is a resident of New Hartford. She has one son, Wayne "Trey" Ralph Cleary III, who, in 2009 received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, publisher, commentator and politician who was elected in 2010 to represent the 115th Assembly District of the New York State Assembly
New 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...
. Tenney had served her predecessor, former Assemblyman David Townsend
David Townsend (politician)
David Townsend is a member of the New York State Assembly, for the 115th district first elected in 1990. He is a Republican. Hedid not seek reelection in 2010, instead running for Oneida County Sheriff, a position he lost narrowly.-References:...
, from 2003-2009 as his chief of staff and legal counsel. Her district comprises parts of Oswego County
Oswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
and Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
.
Tenney is a native of New Hartford, New York
New Hartford, New York
New Hartford, New York may refer to:* New Hartford , New York, in Oneida County* New Hartford , New York, within the town of New Hartford...
and the daughter of former New York State Supreme Court Justice
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
John R. Tenney. She graduated from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
and the Taft College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
.
Early in her career, she was the only American employed by the Consulate General of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. She acted as intermediary between ABC Sports and the Yugoslavian government leading up to the 1984 Winter Olympics
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
.
From 1996 through 2004, she established Tenney Media Group in Clinton
Clinton, Oneida County, New York
Clinton is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. It was named for George Clinton, a royal governor of the colony of New York....
, 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...
where she served as publisher and corporate counsel. Tenney Media Group published and printed free community newspapers founded by her parents and grandparents: eight weekly newspaper editions known as the Mid-York Weekly & Pennysaver with a total direct mailed circulation of over 100,000 households throughout three counties in Central New York. The original Mid-York Weekly’s roots date back to the early 19th century and it remains one of the oldest continuously running weekly newspapers in the country.
Tenney also maintains an active private law practice based in Clinton. Prior to opening her private practice, she was a partner at the Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
area law firm of Groben, Gilroy, Oster and Saunders. She is currently a co-owner and legal counsel to Mid-York Press
Pennysaver
A pennysaver A pennysaver A pennysaver (or free ads paper, Friday Ad (British English or shopper) is a kind of free community periodical available in North America (typically weekly or monthly publications) that advertises items for sale. Frequently pennysavers are actually called The Pennysaver...
, a commercial printing and manufacturing firm started by her mother’s family in 1946. Mid-York Press employs nearly eighty people in the Chenango County
Chenango, New York
Chenango is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 11,454 at the 2000 census.The Town of Chenango is in the eastern part of the county, northeast of Binghamton.- History :The town was first settled around 1787....
community of Sherburne
Sherburne, New York
Sherburne, New York is the name of two locations in Chenango County, New York:*Sherburne , New York*Sherburne , New York...
.
In January 2001, she began serving as co-host and moderator of “Common Cents”, a radio and television program that airs weekly across Oneida and most of Herkimer County
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
. In February 2010, Claudia began co-hosting “First Look” on WIBX 950 Radio
WIBX
WIBX is a talk radio station based in Utica, New York. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.-History:WIBX went on the air December 5, 1925...
.
Tenney also worked for the State Assembly as a staff member to Assemblyman David Townsend, who announced in 2010 he was a candidate for Oneida County Sheriff. Tenney defeated Oneida County Legislator George Joseph in a Republican primary in September for a chance to represent the seat. With no Democratic or other opponents in the November 2010 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, Tenney became the district’s first assemblywoman.
Tenney is a resident of New Hartford. She has one son, Wayne "Trey" Ralph Cleary III, who, in 2009 received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.