George Pataki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Pataki
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Pataki in 2004
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| 53rd Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2006 |
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| Lieutenant | Betsy McCaughey Mary Donohue |
| Preceded by | Mario Cuomo |
| Succeeded by | Eliot Spitzer |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 37th district |
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| In office January 1, 1993 – December 31, 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Mary B. Goodhue |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Leibell |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 91st district |
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| In office January 1, 1985 – December 31, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | William Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Leibell |
| Mayor of Peekskill | |
| In office January 1, 1981 – December 31, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Fred Bianco |
| Succeeded by | Richard E. Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Elmer Pataki
June 24, 1945 Peekskill, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Libby Rowland
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 4, including Allison |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Columbia University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
George Elmer Pataki (born June 24, 1945) is an American politician. He served as the 53rd governor of New York from 1995 to 2006. Before becoming governor, he worked in the State Legislature from 1985 to 1994. He was also the mayor of Peekskill from 1981 to 1984.
Pataki was one of only three Republican governors in New York since 1923. His major achievements included creating new health care programs. He also led recovery efforts after the September 11 attacks. Under his leadership, the state's credit rating improved three times. He decided not to run for a fourth term in 2006.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Pataki was born on June 24, 1945, in Peekskill, New York. His family had roots in Hungary, Italy, and Ireland. His paternal grandfather, John Pataki, came from Hungary in 1908. His father, Louis P. Pataki, was a mailman and volunteer fire chief. His mother, Margaret Lagana, was the daughter of Italian and Irish immigrants. George Pataki has an older brother named Louis. He can speak some Hungarian, as well as Spanish, French, and German.
After finishing Peekskill High School, Pataki went to Yale University in 1963. He studied there on an academic scholarship and graduated in 1967. While at Yale, he was the Chairman of the Conservative Party of the Yale Political Union. He enjoyed taking part in debates. Later, he earned his law degree (J.D.) from Columbia Law School in 1970.
Starting His Political Career
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While working as a lawyer, George Pataki became friends with Michael C. Finnegan. Finnegan helped Pataki in all his campaigns, from mayor to governor. He later became Pataki's chief counsel when he was governor.
Mayor of Peekskill
Pataki first won an election in November 1981. He became the Mayor of Peekskill, a city in Westchester County. He won against the current mayor, Fred Bianco Jr., with 70% of the votes. In November 1983, he was re-elected as mayor, winning 74% of the votes.
New York State Assembly
In November 1984, Pataki was elected to the New York State Assembly for the 91st District. He won against William J. Ryan, who had served one term. Pataki won with 53% of the vote. He won again in 1986 with 63% of the vote. In November 1988, he won a third term with 74% of the vote. He won his fourth and final term in November 1990 with over 90% of the vote.
New York State Senate
In 1992, Pataki decided to run for the State Senate instead of the Assembly. He challenged Mary B. Goodhue, a Republican who had been in the Senate for seven terms. Pataki won the primary election by a small margin. He then won the general election in November 1992. He served in the Senate before running for governor.
Running for Governor
1994 Election for Governor
In 1994, George Pataki was a state senator when he decided to run for governor. He felt that the state government in Albany needed changes, especially with taxes. U.S. Senator Al D'Amato supported Pataki, which helped his campaign. Pataki easily won the Republican nomination.
He was seen as an underdog because he was running against the three-term Governor Mario Cuomo. Pataki was not well-known across the state. He promised to serve only two terms if elected. Pataki won the election by a small margin. He became New York's first Republican governor since Nelson Rockefeller.
1998 Election for Governor
In 1998, Pataki was the favorite to win re-election. He ran without opposition for the Republican nomination. He chose Judge Mary Donohue as his new running mate. The Democrats had a primary election to choose their candidate. Pataki easily won his second term as governor. He received 54.3% of the votes. This was the last time a Republican won a majority of votes in a statewide election in New York.
2002 Election for Governor
Pataki was a strong candidate for a third term, even though he had promised in 1994 to serve only two terms. He ran again with Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue. He focused on his work and the need for stability after the September 11 attacks.
Pataki also sought the nomination of the Independence Party of New York. He ran against the party's founder, Thomas Golisano, but lost the primary for that nomination. However, Mary Donohue won the primary for lieutenant governor.
In the general election, Pataki easily defeated his opponents. He won 49.4% of the vote. This was the last time a Republican was elected Governor of New York.
Leaving the Governorship
By the summer of 2005, polls showed that it would be difficult for Pataki to win a fourth term. So, on July 27, 2005, he announced he would not run again. He said New York was "a better state than it was 10 years ago." He wanted to "follow a new path, find new challenges." Eliot Spitzer succeeded him as governor.
As Governor: Key Policies and Actions
| The Pataki Executive Chamber | ||
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| Office | Name | Term |
| Governor | George Pataki | 1995–2007 |
| Lieutenant Governor | Betsy McCaughey | 1995–1999 |
| Mary Donohue | 1999–2007 | |
| Secretary to the Governor | Bradford J. Race Jr. | 1995–2002 |
| John P. Cahill | 2002–2007 | |
| General Counsel | Michael C. Finnegan | 1995–1997 |
| James McGuire | 1997–2003 | |
| Richard Platkin | 2003–2007 | |
| Communications Director | Zenia Mucha | 1995–2000 |
| Michael McKeon | 2000–2003 | |
| David Catalfamo | 2003–2007 | |
| Office of the Attorney General | Dennis Vacco | 1995–1999 |
| Eliot Spitzer | 1999–2007 | |
| Office of the Inspector General | Roslynn R. Mauskopf | 1995–2002 |
| Jill Konviser-Levine | 2002–2005 | |
| Dineen Riviezzo | 2005–2007 | |
| Office of the Comptroller | H. Carl McCall | 1995–2003 |
| Alan Hevesi | 2003–2007 | |
| Department of Agriculture and Markets | Donald R. Davidsen | 1995–1999 |
| Nathan L. Rudgers | 1995–2005 | |
| Patrick Brennan | 2005–2007 | |
| Department of Banking | Neil Levin | 1995–1997 |
| Elizabeth McCaul | 1997–2003 | |
| Diana Taylor | 2003–2007 | |
| Department of Civil Service | George C. Sinnott | 1995–2004 |
| Daniel E. Wall | 2004–2007 | |
| Department of Corrections and Community Supervision | Glenn S. Goord | 1995–2007 |
| Department of Environmental Conservation | Michael D. Zagata | 1995–1997 |
| John P. Cahill | 1997–2001 | |
| Erin Crotty | 2001–2005 | |
| Denise Sheehan | 2005–2007 | |
| Education Department | Richard P. Mills | 1995–2007 |
| Department of Health | Barbara DeBuono | 1995–1998 |
| Antonia Novello | 1998–2007 | |
| Insurance Department | Edward Muhl | 1995–1997 |
| Neil Levin | 1997–2001 | |
| Gregory V. Serio | 2001–2005 | |
| Howard Mills III | 2005–2007 | |
| Department of Labor | John E. Sweeney | 1995–1997 |
| James J. McGowan | 1997–2000 | |
| Linda Angello | 2001–2007 | |
| Department of Motor Vehicles | Richard E. Jackson | 1995–2000 |
| Raymond P. Martinez | 2000–2006 | |
| Nancy Naples | 2006–2007 | |
| Department of Military & Naval Affairs | Michael Hall | 1995–1997 |
| John H. Fenimore V | 1997–2001 | |
| Thomas P. Maguire | 2001–2006 | |
| Joseph J. Taluto | 2006–2007 | |
| Department of Public Service | John F. O'Mara | 1995–1998 |
| Maureen Helmer | 1998–2002 | |
| William Flynn | 2002–2006 | |
| Patricia Acompora | 2006–2008 | |
| Secretary of State | Alexander Treadwell | 1995–2001 |
| Randy Daniels | 2001–2006 | |
| Christopher Jacobs | 2006–2007 | |
| Department of Taxation and Finance | Michael H. Urbach | 1995–1999 |
| Arthur J. Roth | 1999–2003 | |
| Andrew Eristoff | 2003–2006 | |
| Department of Transportation | John B. Daly | 1995–1997 |
| Joseph H. Boardman | 1997–2005 | |
| Thomas J. Madison Jr. | 2005–2007 | |
As Governor, Pataki was known as a moderate Republican. He worked to cut taxes and was tough on crime. He also supported gun control, protecting the environment, and gay rights.
Money and the Economy
Taxes and Spending
During Pataki's time as governor, New York's credit rating improved three times. He often mentioned this as a success. He introduced and approved more tax cuts than any governor before him. He kept his promise to cut income and business taxes in New York.
The STAR and STAR-Plus programs were also started under Pataki. These programs helped homeowners and landowners save money on their school taxes.
Casinos
Pataki supported the creation of Native American casinos in upstate New York. For example, the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls agreed to share some of its earnings with the city. This money was used for local tourism and projects related to the casino.
Social Policies
Gay Rights
Pataki strongly supported the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act. This law protects people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. It had been debated in the state Senate for many years. In late 2002, the bill passed and Pataki signed it into law. However, he did not support same-sex marriage as governor.
Health Care
Under Pataki's leadership, several new health care programs were created. These programs aimed to help the state's poorest citizens get medical care.
In 1999, Governor Pataki signed a law to provide health insurance coverage. This program, called Family Health Plus, helped low-income adults who did not have health insurance from their jobs. Child Health Plus greatly expanded coverage for poorer families with children under 19. By 2001, over 530,000 children were enrolled.
Pataki also made medicine more affordable for seniors. He did this through New York's EPIC program. In 2003, New York banned smoking in public places. This was done to improve public health and reduce health care costs.
Environment
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In 2005, BusinessWeek recognized George Pataki for his efforts against global warming. They noted his work to increase New York's use of renewable energy. In 1996, Pataki helped create the Clean Water/Clean Air Environmental Bond Act. This act provided $1.75 billion for over 2,200 environmental projects. These projects focused on improving drinking water, closing landfills, and cleaning up polluted waterways.
During his time in office, Pataki added over one million acres to New York's protected open spaces. He also worked to protect the drinking water for millions of New Yorkers. This was done through the Catskill Watershed Agreement. This agreement provided $1 billion in aid to communities around the reservoirs. In return, these communities accepted stricter environmental rules to protect the water.
Education
Pataki supported the idea of charter schools in New York. In 1998, he pushed the Legislature to pass a charter school law. He expanded charter schools in New York City. He also raised the state's limit on charter schools to 250.
Working with Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Pataki aimed to improve the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Starting in 1999, CUNY colleges had to stop offering basic remedial courses. This was to ensure a higher quality college education. Pataki also worked to give mayors in New York's largest cities more control over their school systems.
September 11 Attacks and Recovery
George Pataki's New York City office had moved out of the World Trade Center before the September 11, 2001, attacks. After 9/11, Pataki and New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appointed the LMDC. This group helped distribute almost $10 billion in federal money. They also oversaw the building of a memorial. A symbolic cornerstone for the Freedom Tower was laid on July 4, 2004. Construction began in May 2006, and the memorial was finished in 2011.
Lieutenant Governors
Betsy McCaughey Ross
Betsy McCaughey was Pataki's running mate in the 1994 election. She was chosen because of her work on health care plans. In April 1997, Pataki announced that she would not be his running mate for the 1998 election. McCaughey later became a Democrat and ran for governor herself.
Mary Donohue
After dropping McCaughey Ross, Pataki chose State Supreme Court Justice Mary Donohue as his running mate in 1998. Donohue served as Lieutenant Governor for Pataki's second and third terms. She did not run for governor when Pataki retired in 2006. In December 2006, Pataki appointed Donohue to be a Judge.
Political Activities After Governorship
After leaving office, Pataki joined a law firm. He also continued to consider running for president. He formed an environmental consulting firm with his former chief of staff, John Cahill.
Governor George E. Pataki Leadership and Learning Center
The Governor George E. Pataki Leadership and Learning Center is in Peekskill, New York. It aims to teach schoolchildren about government. It uses Governor Pataki's public service as an example. The center held Governor Pataki's official portrait for a time.
2016 Presidential Campaign
In early 2015, Pataki explored running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. On May 28, 2015, he officially announced his campaign. He had thought about running in 2008 and 2012 but decided against it.
Pataki's campaign was considered a long shot. He had not run for office since 2002. Also, his views on gun control and environmental protection were seen as more liberal than many other Republicans. His campaign did not gain much support. He often did not make it to the main candidate debates. His poll numbers stayed very low. On December 29, 2015, Pataki ended his campaign before the primary elections began. He later supported other candidates.
2020 Presidential Election
In 2020, George Pataki chose not to support Donald Trump for re-election. He also did not endorse Joe Biden, due to disagreements on foreign policy. Pataki was against efforts to question the election results.
2022 New York Gubernatorial Election
In September 2022, Pataki supported Republican candidate Lee Zeldin for Governor of New York. Zeldin ran against the current governor, Kathy Hochul. Zeldin lost the election by a margin of 6.4%. This was the closest gubernatorial election in New York since Pataki's own win in 1994.
Personal Life
George Pataki married his wife, Libby, in 1973. They have four children. Pataki is Catholic.
In February 2006, Pataki had an emergency surgery for his appendix. A few days later, he needed a second operation due to a complication. He was discharged from the hospital in March.
Pataki has been a strong critic of the Cuomo and Hochul administrations. In 2022, some thought he might run for Governor of New York again.
Foreign Honors
Hungary – Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2008)
See also
In Spanish: George Pataki para niños
