James Seveney is a politician from Rhode Island. He is a state senator representing the Bristol, Portsmouth, and Tiverton area, which is the 11th district. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Seveney was born in Rhode Island. He attended Rhode Island College for his bachelor's degree and Naval Postgraduate School for his master's degree. [1] Seveney's father, Gardner "Scuppy" Seveney, served in the Rhode Island Senate from 1978 to 1986. [2]
Seveney was a naval officer for 21 years. He specialized in aerospace engineering and defense systems acquisition. [1] Following his naval career, Seveney worked as a defense consultant. [2]
Seveney served on the Portsmouth School Committee from 2000 to 2004. In 2004 he ran for Portsmouth Town Council, serving as both the council president and vice-president. [2] He won serving until 2016, where he announced his campaign for Rhode Island State Senate. He has been serving in the state legislature since 2016. [1]
In the legislature, Seveney has been active on substance abuse-related issues, especially involving educating young people. [3] In 2019, Seveney proposed a $300 fine for those pulled over for driving under the influence and refuse to take a Breathalyzer test. [4] Seveney has also advocated for more funding toward mental health and suicide prevention, especially with veteran populations. [3]
Seveney has been married to his wife Val for over 40 years. [2] The two met while both were students at Rhode Island College. [2] They have two children. [1]