George Pataki

**George Elmer Pataki** (; born June 24, 1945) is an American politician. He was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995, until December 31, 2006.

## Early life

Pataki was born in Peekskill, New York. He is of an Austrian-Hungarian ancestry. After graduating fom Peekskill High School, he entered Yale University in the same year as George W. Bush in 1964 on an academic scholarship and graduated in three years. While there he served as chairman of the Conservative Party of the Yale Political Union.

## Governor of New York (1995-2006)

Pataki's first job in politics was mayor of his hometown of Peekskill. In 1994 he ran a campaign against Mario Cuomo for Governor of New York. Cuomo was one of the most famous politicians in the country at the time and he was an icon of liberalism in the country. Few people expected Pataki to win, but in a major upset, Pataki won the election.

He served three terms as Governor of New York State. A popular governor, Pataki became most famous for his leadership of the state after the September 11th attacks in 2001. He also focused on creating jobs in the state and creating increased parkland for New Yorkers.

## 2016 presidential race

Pataki had often been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate. In early 2015, he began exploring a candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2016, and announced his candidacy on May 28, 2015. On December 29, 2015, Pataki announced that he would be ending his presidential campaign. A few days later, he announced his support for Marco Rubio for president. After Rubio dropped out and days before the New York primary, Pataki endorsed Ohio governor John Kasich for the nomination.

## Personal life

Pataki married Elizabeth Rowland in 1973. They have four children: Emily, Teddy, Allison, and Owen.

## Other websites

- George Pataki for President
- Video of speech at cornerstone laying ceremony for the Freedom Tower on July 4, 2004

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific-prefix**: The Honourable, The Honorable
- **name**: George Pataki
- **image**: Governor of New York George Pataki at Belknap County Republican LINCOLN DAY FIRST-IN-THE-NATION PRESIDENTIAL SUNSET DINNER CRUISE, Weirs Beach, New Hampshire May 2015 by Michael Vadon 08 (cropped).jpg
- **order**: 53rd Governor of New York
- **lieutenant**: Betsy McCaughey <small>(1995–98)</small>
Mary Donohue <small>(1999–2006)</small>
- **term start**: January 1, 1995
- **term end**: December 31, 2006
- **predecessor**: Mario Cuomo
- **successor**: Eliot Spitzer
- **state senate1**: New York
- **district1**: 37th
- **term start1**: January 1, 1993
- **term end1**: December 31, 1994
- **predecessor1**: Mary Goodhue
- **successor1**: Vincent Leibell
- **state assembly2**: New York
- **district2**: 91st
- **term start2**: January 1, 1985
- **term end2**: December 31, 1992
- **predecessor2**: Bill Ryan
- **successor2**: Vincent Leibell
- **office3**: Mayor of Peekskill, New York, Peekskill
- **term start3**: 1981
- **term end3**: 1984
- **predecessor3**: Fred Bianco
- **successor3**: Richard E. Jackson, Richard Jackson
- **birth name**: George Elmer Pataki
- **birth place**: Peekskill, New York, Peekskill, New York (state), New York, United States, U.S.
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
- **spouse**: Libby Pataki, Libby Rowland
- **children**: Emily
Teddy
Allison
Owen
- **alma mater**: Yale University <small>(Bachelor of Arts, B.A.)</small>
Columbia Law School <small>(Juris Doctor, J.D.)</small>
- **signature**: George Pataki Signature.svg