Barbara Patton facts for kids

Barbara Patton (born March 28, 1944) is an American lawyer and politician from New York. She has held important roles in government and business throughout her career. She is known for her work in the New York State Assembly and as a leader in various organizations.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Patton was born on March 28, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. She attended St. Peter Claver Elementary School and All Saints Commercial High School. She later married and had two children. Her family lived in Freeport, which is in Nassau County, New York.

When her children were teenagers, Barbara decided to go back to school. She earned an A.A.S. degree in Business Administration from Kingsborough Community College in 1976. After that, she continued her studies at Hofstra University, where she received a B.A. in English in 1979. She then went on to get her law degree (J.D.) from Hofstra Law School in 1982.

Political Career

Barbara Patton became involved in politics as a member of the Democratic Party. She was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 18th district. The State Assembly is a group of elected officials who make laws for New York State. She served in this role from 1983 to 1988.

During her time in the Assembly, she worked on important issues for the people of New York. In 1987, Governor Mario Cuomo chose her for a new leadership position. She was nominated to be the Chairwoman of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. This board helps workers who get injured on the job. She was confirmed for this role in January 1988 and stayed in office until 1994.

Later Career and Public Service

After her time with the Workers' Compensation Board, Barbara Patton moved into the business world. She became a Vice President at Nynex, a large telecommunications company. She played a part in Nynex's merger with Bell Atlantic in 1997. This merger created an even bigger company.

She later returned to public service in Nassau County. From April 1999 to July 2002, she served as the Democratic Co-Commissioner of Elections for Nassau County. This job involves overseeing elections and making sure they run smoothly.

In 2002, she left her role as Commissioner to become an assistant professor. She taught accounting, taxation, and business law at Hofstra University's Frank G. Zarb School of Business. In May 2003, she considered running for Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, but she later decided not to run.