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| Affiliation | Independence |
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| Name | Jeffrey E. Graham |
| Address |
Watertown, New York , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
May 12, 1955
(69 years)
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| Contributor | nystate63 |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Mar 14, 2016 08:20pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Jeff Graham was born May 12, 1955 in Palo Alto, CA to George N. and Doris R. Graham. Jeff's father was a Rochester native and an executive at Eastman Kodak.
Jeff lived in Washington DC as a child and moved to the Rochester area in 1963 following the death of his father. Jeff moved to Watertown in 1968 when his family relocated. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1973, Jefferson Community College in 1975 and the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1977.
Jeff Graham worked in radio and television news from 1977-84 before going to work in public relations with the U.S. Army in 1985. Graham returned to broadcasting in 1987 to start the news operation at WFYF-TV in Watertown. During the same period, Jeff had acquired a neighborhood tavern and restaurant now called the Speak Easy. He currently owns and operates it. After leaving television news in 1991, Jeff ran for Mayor of Watertown. Watertown is one of two city's in New York with a non-partisan election format sanctioned by the State Legislature. Candidates do not run on parties but are listed at the far right side of the ballot with no party labels.
At the time, Jeff was a registered Democrat. Despite being heavily outspent, Jeff won with 72% and was reelected in 1995. In 1992, Jeff was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York City representing Gov. Jerry Brown. Following the nomination of Bill Clinton, Jeff supported the candidacy of H.Ross Perot and helped Mr. Perot garner 25% in Jefferson County. Jeff formally quit the Democratic Party the following year, and while he considered registering as a Conservative, decided to enroll in no party.
Jeff became active in the 1994 gubernatorial campaign of B. Thomas Golisano, and hosted Mr. Golisano's campaign visit to Watertown. Following the election, Graham enrolled in the newly formed Independence Party and was named County Chair, a position he holds today.
During six and one-half years as Mayor, Jeff has become known as leader in changing an ineffective adminstration and promoting the economic revitalization of the City. Among his accomplishments is playing a key roll in retaining New York Air Brake in the City, and holding the line on taxes over the past five years. His decision this year to run for Governor is motivated be a desire to bring his working knowledge of local government the statehouse.
Jeff believes fundamental reform of the structure of government in New York is necessary to get a handle on a system that taxes residents at a rate 60% higher than the national average.
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