Jim Buhrmaster

 Committed to restoring ethical, responsible government to Washington and stimulating growth in upstate New York's lagging economy, Jim Buhrmaster is a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in New York's 21^st District.  The president of a local small business with a long history of civic involvement, Jim is running to bring his decades of real-world business experience and community service to benefit the people of the Capital District in Congress.

Jim is the president of Buhrmaster Energy Group, a family-owned small business that spans four generations.  The company was founded in 1913 by Jim's grandfather who delivered coal to customers with a horse and wagon.  Today, Buhrmaster Energy serves a seven-county area in the Capital District, providing consumers with a diverse portfolio of home heating and cooling products.

Jim has first-hand experience dealing with the challenges that small businesses face, but also knows the satisfaction that comes with creating jobs in the community.  While he may be known for his successful stewardship of the family business, community service has been a lifelong commitment.  He serves on the boards of several civic associations, including the Twin Rivers Boy Scout Council, the Freedom Park Foundation Board, and the Schenectady Military Affairs Council.

In the past, Jim has served as chairman of the Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce; on the boards of the Scotia-Glenville Community Drug and Alcohol Task Force and the Schenectady Museum; and as president of the Scotia Rotary Club; the Schenectady County Boy Scouts; and, the Scotia-Glenville American Field Service.  He is a former member of the New York State Superfund Management Board and the New York State Department of Social Services HEAP Block Grant Advisory Committee.  In 1998, Jim was awarded the Capital District YMCA's President's Award.

Jim is currently serving his second term in the Schenectady County Legislature where he has built a reputation for bipartisanship.  He served as the Vice Chairman of the Legislature's Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, which has fostered millions of dollars in savings for county municipalities and taxpayers.  Presently he is the chairman of the Legislature's Transportation Committee.  As a legislator, he has seen first hand how policies set at the federal level affect local governments, taxpayers, and small businesses.

Educated at Scotia-Glenville Central Schools, Jim is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Business Administration.  He and his wife Sandra have four sons and six grandchildren.

New York's 21^st Congressional District includes Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties, and parts of Fulton, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties.

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