Vedat’s commitment to public service came from his family’s experience as political activists and refugees, opportunities he had working with inspiring leaders, and his experience helping to create a country out of the ashes of war.
Vedat was born in Kosovo (formerly Yugoslavia) in April of 1978. At the age of 4, he and his family fled the oppressive, socialist regime to the United States. Vedat first moved to the Bronx and later put down permanent roots in Yorktown. Vedat is one of five children, four of whom still reside in Yorktown where they are raising their families.
After graduating from Lakeland High School, Vedat went on to pursue a B.A. from Connecticut College, where he was invited to serve on the Board of Trustees as a Young Alumni Trustee. Next, Vedat earned his J.D. from Seton Hall University. During his studies, Vedat interned with two of his heroes, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, then at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and Congressman Lee Hamilton on the House International Relations Committee.
Upon passing the New York Bar, Vedat was called to service in Kosovo to join the US/EU effort to help establish the newly formed state of Kosovo – first through a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and later through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations. While in Kosovo, Vedat’s hard work lead to remarkable accomplishments, including drafting some of Kosovo’s foundational legal documents and establishing Kosovo’s Ministry of Local Government Administration. Vedat was later nominated by the United Nations to serve as the Chief Legal Advisor to Kosovo’s Prime Minister. Shortly after Kosovo declared independence, Vedat returned to his home in the United States.
Vedat’s experiences abroad made him appreciate the value of the strong democratic foundation in the United States. Upon returning home to Yorktown, Vedat followed in the footsteps of his family’s small business success in real estate by opening up his own small business, in the form of a real estate legal practice, in Yorktown Heights and in the Bronx.
Currently, Vedat lives and works in his hometown of Yorktown, with his wife, Vjosa, and their children, Leka and Hana, who also attend Yorktown public schools. Upon his return, Vedat has joined the Rotary Club of Yorktown, has been active in his kids’ school, sports, and scouting. Vedat is an active member of the Yorktown Democratic Party where he serves as a Democratic District Leader.
