George Pataki
53rd Governor of New York / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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George Elmer Pataki (/pəˈtɑːki/; born June 24, 1945) is an American politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New York from 1995 to 2006. He previously served in the State Legislature from 1985 to 1994, and as the Mayor of Peekskill from 1981 to 1984. Pataki was the third Republican since 1923 to win New York's governorship, after Thomas E. Dewey and Nelson Rockefeller.
George Pataki | |
|---|---|
 Pataki in 2015 | |
| 53rd Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2006 | |
| Lieutenant | Betsy McCaughey Mary Donohue |
| Preceded by | Mario Cuomo |
| Succeeded by | Eliot Spitzer |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 37th district | |
| In office January 1, 1993 – December 31, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Mary B. Goodhue |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Leibell |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 91st district | |
| In office January 1, 1985 – December 31, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | William Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Leibell |
| Mayor of Peekskill | |
| In office January 1, 1981 – December 31, 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Bianco |
| Succeeded by | Richard E. Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Elmer Pataki (1945-06-24) June 24, 1945 (age 78) Peekskill, New York, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Allison |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Columbia University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Official website |
Pataki's most notable achievements as governor included the creation of a number of new health care programs, presiding over recovery efforts following the September 11 attacks, and for increasing the state's credit rating three times. He chose not to run for a fourth term in 2006; he was succeeded by Democrat Eliot Spitzer. Pataki and Mary Donohue (his second Lt. Governor) remain the last Republicans to be elected to statewide office in New York, although Republicans Joseph Bruno and Dean Skelos each briefly served as acting Lieutenant Governor in 2008.
Pataki announced his candidacy for the Republican Party presidential nomination on May 28, 2015. He withdrew from the race shortly before the primaries began on December 29, 2015.