George Elmer Pataki
George E. Pataki, November 15, 2007. Photo by Christopher Peterson.
53rd Governor of New York
In office January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2006
Lieutenant	Betsy McCaughey Ross Mary Donohue
Preceded by	Mario Cuomo
Succeeded by	Eliot Spitzer
Born	June 24, 1945 (1945-06-24) (age 62) Peekskill, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Libby Pataki
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

George Elmer Pataki (born June 24, 1945) is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York serving three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995^[1] until December 31, 2006. The Governor of New York is the head of the Executive branch of New York 's government and the Commander-in-chief of the state's military New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Lieutenant Governor of New York is the second highest ranking official in the government of New York. Betsy McCaughey Ross (born Elizabeth Peterkin, October 20, 1948, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was the Lieutenant Governor of the State Mary Donohue is a Judge of the New York Court of Claims and a former Lieutenant Governor of New York State. Mario Matthew Cuomo (born Queens New York, June 15, 1932) served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 Eliot Laurence Spitzer (born June 10, 1959) is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democratic Party. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Peekskill is a city in Westchester County New York. It is situated on a Bay along the east side of the Hudson River. Libby Pataki (born Elizabeth Rowland on November 17, 1950) is the former First Lady of New York and the wife of former New York Governor An attorney at law (or attorney-at-law) in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Governor of New York is the head of the Executive branch of New York 's government and the Commander-in-chief of the state's military New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. He is a member of the Republican Party and was seen as a possible 2000 and 2008^[2] Presidential candidate.

Family and education

Pataki's paternal grandfather was János (later John) Pataki (1883-1971) of Aranyosapáti, Hungary^[3], who came to the United States in 1908 and worked in a hat factory. Aranyosapáti is a Village in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county in the Northern Great Plain Region of eastern Hungary. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic János had married Erzsébet (later Elizabeth; 1887-1975) around 1904. Their son, Pataki's father, was Louis P. Pataki (1912-1996), a mailman. For the electronic mail software see GNU Mailman. "Postman" redirects here His maternal grandfather was Matteo Laganà (born in Calabria, Italy in 1889), who married Agnes Lynch of County Louth, Ireland around 1914. Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest County Louth (Contae Lú is a County on the East coast of Ireland, on the border with Northern Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Their daughter, Margaret Lagana, is Pataki's mother. He has an older brother, Louis. George Pataki can still speak a little in Hungarian^[3] today. Hungarian ( magyar nyelv) is a Uralic language (more specifically a Ugric language) unrelated to most other languages in Europe.

Pataki married Elizabeth Rowland in 1973, and they have four children: Emily, Teddy, Allison, and Owen. Libby Pataki (born Elizabeth Rowland on November 17, 1950) is the former First Lady of New York and the wife of former New York Governor

Pataki won a scholarship to enter Horace Mann School in Riverdale, a section of The Bronx. The Horace Mann School is an independent College preparatory school in New York City. Riverdale (population approximately 45000 according to the 2000 U He then entered Yale University in 1964 on an academic scholarship, and graduated in 1967. While there he served as chairman of the Conservative Party (the modern Independent Party) of the Yale Political Union. Parties The Union is an umbrella organization that currently contains seven Parties the Liberal Party (Lib the Party of the Left (PoL the Progressive Party (Prog the Independent ^[4] He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1970. Juris Doctor (abbreviated JD or JD, from the Latin, Teacher of Law) is a first professional graduate degree and Professional Columbia Law School, located in New York City, is one of the professional schools of Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League. ^[5]

History and campaigns

• 1981–1984 Mayor of Peekskill, New York
• 1985–1992 New York Assembly
• 1993–1994 New York State Senate
• 1995–1999 New York Governor (First Term)
• 1999–2003 New York Governor (Second Term)
• 2003–2007 New York Governor (Third Term)

Early political career

While practicing law at Plunkett and Jaffe, P. Peekskill is a city in Westchester County New York. It is situated on a Bay along the east side of the Hudson River. The New York State Assembly is the Lower house of the New York Legislature, the state legislature of the U The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society C. in Peekskill, Pataki became friends with Michael C. Finnegan, who would go on to be the architect of Pataki's ascendancy to power. Michael C Finnegan (born 1955 in Peekskill New York) is the managing director of Investment banking for JPMorgan Chase. ^[6] Finnegan would go on to manage Pataki's campaigns for Mayor, State Assembly, State Senate, and the Governorship. The New York State Assembly is the Lower house of the New York Legislature, the state legislature of the U The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms ^[7] Finnegan was then appointed Chief Counsel to the Governor in 1995, and played the key role in developing and negotiating nearly all of Pataki's early legislative success. ^[8]

• Mayor - City of Peekskill

George Pataki first won elective office in November 1981. Peekskill is a city in Westchester County New York. It is situated on a Bay along the east side of the Hudson River. He was elected Mayor of the City of Peekskill, which is located in the Northwestern part of Westchester County. Pataki defeated the Democratic incumbent Fred Bianco Jr. , winning 70% of the vote. In November 1983, Pataki was re-elected Mayor, winning 74% of the vote.

• New York State Assembly

In November 1984, George Pataki was elected to the New York State Assembly, (91st district), by defeating the one-term Democratic incumbent, William J. The New York State Assembly is the Lower house of the New York Legislature, the state legislature of the U Ryan, winning 53% of the vote. In November 1986, Pataki defeated Ryan in a rematch, capturing 63% of the vote. Pataki won a third term in November 1988, winning 74% of the vote. Pataki won a fourth and final term in November 1990, winning over 90% of the vote, as he only faced a minor party candidate.

• New York State Senate

From 1983-1992, the 91st Assembly district included parts of Westchester, Orange, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms However, in 1992, Assembly Democrats substantially redrew the district boundaries, placing the newly renamed 90th Assembly district entirely within Westchester County. Westchester County is a primarily Suburban county located in the U Instead of running in the newly redrawn district, Pataki decided to challenge seven-term incumbent Republican State Senator Mary Goodhue in a primary. Pataki won the primary by a 52-48% margin. However, Goodhue was still going to appear on the November ballot on a minor party line. In November 1992, George Pataki won election to the New York State Senate in a 4-way race. Pataki served one term before running for Governor.

Governorship

First term, 1995–1998

1994 campaign

Pataki was a first term state senator from Westchester County when he launched his bid for the Republican nomination for governor in 1994. Westchester County is a primarily Suburban county located in the U He said he launched the campaign because of his frustration in the Senate regarding how Albany worked and on tax issues. He was little known statewide and his campaign received a boost when he was endorsed by U. S. Sen. Al D'Amato. Alfonse Marcello D'Amato (born August 1 1937 is a former New York Politician. He received the party's endorsement at the spring state convention and easily defeated former State Republican Chairman Richard Rosenbaum in the September primary. Pataki was considered an underdog from the start since he was running against three term Gov. Mario Cuomo and that Pataki had little name recognition statewide. Mario Matthew Cuomo (born Queens New York, June 15, 1932) served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 D'Amato reportedly backed Pataki because of a poll that showed a pro-choice, fiscal conservative from the New York City suburbs could win statewide for governor. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and The poll also showed a female running mate for lieutenant governor would help the ticket, thus leading to the selection of academic Betsy McCaughey as Pataki's running mate. The Lieutenant Governor of New York is the second highest ranking official in the government of New York. Betsy McCaughey Ross (born Elizabeth Peterkin, October 20, 1948, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was the Lieutenant Governor of the State

The polls had Gov. Cuomo up by as much as ten points going into the final two weeks, but they then narrowed at the end. In reality, however, Pataki remained neck and neck with Cuomo during the entire race, focusing solely on the issues of tax cuts and the death penalty during the campaign. In addition he made an issue of Cuomo seeking a fourth term as governor and pledged to serve only two terms in office. Cuomo was helped late in the race by the endorsement of New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. KBE Per, "Postnominal letters should be included when they are issued by a country or organization the subject has been closely associated with In the end, Pataki narrowly defeated Cuomo in the general election.

Pataki made up for a softer performance in New York City and Long Island by running up a decisive margin north of the city, especially among upstaters disenchanted with Cuomo. The City of New York Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches ^[9] Pataki was the first governor elected since Franklin D. Roosevelt to not come from one of the five boroughs of New York City. The City of New York

Environment

Pataki has long been regarded as an environmentalist and he has made the environment and open space preservation a top priority of his administration. He has long cited that Theodore Roosevelt is his political hero for his work as a conservationist. Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T Pataki has conserved more land statewide and has pushed bond issues in referendums that provided more money to preserve land and clean up the state's rivers and lakes. He has been a long standing advocate for cleaning up the Hudson River and in pushing stricter environmental regulations and penalties. The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk, the Great Mohegan by the Iroquois, or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami

Death penalty

Polls showed that the majority of New Yorkers wanted the state's death penalty laws restored. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. A bill to restore the death penalty passed the Legislature several years in a row, only to be vetoed by Cuomo. A veto, Latin for "I forbid" is used to Denote that a certain party has the right to stop unilaterally a certain piece of Legislation. Pataki made the issue a top priority of his and when the bill reached his desk he signed it into law in 1995. The state's Court of Appeals later ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in the form in which it was written (in the case of People v. LaValle), and the State Legislature has not passed a bill to restore it in a new form. Facts Steven LaValle who murdered high-school track coach Cynthia Quinn during her morning jog (the court states she was stabbed seventy-three times with a Screwdriver During Pataki's 12 years as governor, not a single person was executed in New York State.

Higher education

Pataki has long vetoed increases to spending at the State University of New York and City University of New York. The City University of New York (CUNY Acronym ˈkjuːni is the public University system of New York City. In addition he has vetoed increases to funding for the state's tuition assistance program and equal opportunity program. His higher education policies have included calling for laws to limit the amount of time a student can receive state tuition assistance while in a public university, which he says will increase the rate of graduation in four years. He has also appointed more SUNY and CUNY trustees who are against open enrollment and remedial education policies and who have pushed for a stricter core curriculum program in the public universities. Pataki was criticized for appointing his close friend and former budget director, Robert L. King, as the Chancellor of the State University of New York. Robert L King (born December 27 1946 is an American political figure most notable for having served as Monroe County New York Executive and as the Chancellor of the

Tax cuts and spending cuts

Pataki has been a long-time advocate of tax cuts during his administration and his time in the state legislature. He signed and sponsored several tax cuts during his first term in office and in addition made spending cuts to the budgets he proposed. This has included a push for privatization of state entities.

During the first years of Pataki's administration, he began to institute the major spending cuts, which he has advocated for most of his career. Among the cost cutting initiatives was a push to privatize the World Trade Center from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The World Trade Center in New York City, United States (sometimes informally the WTC or Twin Towers) was a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ( PANYNJ) is a bi-state Port district, established in 1921 (as the Port of New York Authority) through The New York City governor's office for more than 20 years had been in the center. The privatization effort took effect a few weeks before the September 11 attack when Larry Silverstein assumed a 99-year lease for $3. Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul Larry A Silverstein (born 1932 is an American billionaire Real estate Investor and operator and the head of Silverstein 2 billion.

Delayed budgets

While Pataki campaigned against the New York State practice of not adopting an ontime budget by the start of the April 1 state fiscal year for over a decade, Pataki's first 10 years in office did not see the adoption of an ontime budget. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne

Second term, 1999–2002

1998 campaign

Pataki was considered the frontrunner from the start of the 1998 campaign for governor. He was unopposed for the Republican nomination and paired with a new running mate, Judge Mary Donohue. Mary Donohue is a Judge of the New York Court of Claims and a former Lieutenant Governor of New York State. The Democrats faced a primary battle between New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Lt. Peter F Vallone Sr is an American Politician. Born on December 13, 1934, in New York City he attended Fordham University Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross, and former Transportation Commissioner James LaRocca. Betsy McCaughey Ross (born Elizabeth Peterkin, October 20, 1948, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was the Lieutenant Governor of the State Vallone captured the Democratic nomination, with Thomas Golisano running as the Independence nominee and McCaughey Ross as the Liberal Party nominee. Blase Thomas Golisano (born 1942 is an American Billionaire Businessman and the founder of Paychex, the second-largest Payroll Pataki was easily reelected to a second term in office.

Policy and political work

In 1999, Governor Pataki signed into law comprehensive health care legislation that provided health insurance coverage, under Family Health Plus, to lower income adults who do not have health insurance through their employers. Health care is the prevention treatment and management of illness and the preservation of mental health through the services offered by the medical, Nursing In 1999, Pataki explored a possible bid for the Presidency. In 2000, Pataki was also mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate against First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26 1947 is the junior United States Senator from

Vice presidency

In July 2000, Pataki's name surfaced on the short list to be the running mate for Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush, along with the names of Governor John Engler of Michigan, Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania, former Senator John Danforth of Missouri, and former U. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. John Mathias Engler (born October 12, 1948) is an American Politician. Thomas Joseph Ridge (born August 26 1945) is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives (1983&ndash1995 John Claggett "Jack" Danforth (born September 5, 1936) is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican S. Labor Secretary Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina. Mary Elizabeth Hanford "Liddy" Dole (born July 29 1936 is an American politician who served in both the Ronald Reagan and George H Bush eventually selected the man who was in charge of scouting vice presidential candidates, former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney (born January 30 1941 is the forty-sixth and current Vice President of the United States. Pataki had strongly campaigned for Bush including an unsuccessful effort to keep John McCain off the New York primary ballot (which Bush ultimately won).

September 11 terrorist attacks

Pataki's New York City office had moved out of the World Trade Center in the months before the September 11, 2001 attacks to new offices on Third Avenue.

Pataki and Giuliani appointed the LMDC to distribute nearly $10 billion in federal grants and to oversee the construction of a memorial, though as of September 2006 the latter has not begun. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation ( LMDC) was formed after the September 11 attacks to plan the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan and distribute Giuliani had to step down because of term limits and Pataki took the lead on the building process, though the Port Authority is a state-run agency and thus Giuliani had very little control in the rebuilding effort anyway.

Native American casinos

Pataki has been a long advocate for Native American casinos in upstate New York. He has proposed the creation of several casinos throughout upstate with the revenue being shared by the state, tribe and municipal government. In the 1990s he was able to secure the creation of one casino on an Indian reservation outside Syracuse. Syracuse (locally ˈsɛrəkjuːs sometimes ˈsɪrəkjuːs or /ˈsɪərəkjuːs/ by non-natives is a city in Central New York, USA. His plans to create new casinos were blocked by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver until after the Sept. Sheldon Silver (born February 13, 1944) is a lawyer a Politician and a member of the Democratic Party, currently serving as Speaker 11 attacks, when Silver was persuaded that more money could come into the state government. Pataki soon signed an agreement to create new casinos in the Catskills, Niagara Falls, and in Buffalo. The Catskill Mountains (also known as simply the Catskills) a natural area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany Niagara Falls is a City in Niagara County, New York, United States. Buffalo (ˈbʌfəloʊ is the second largest city in New York State. The Seneca Niagara Casino opened in Niagara Falls in January 2003. Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel is a Casino located in Niagara Falls, New York and was built to compete with Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview

Niagara Falls casino money fight

As a part of the creation of the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, an agreement was reached to give a percentage of the slot machine revenue to the City of Niagara Falls each year to spend on local tourism projects and projects relating to hosting the casino. A slot machine ( American) fruit machine ( British) or poker machine ( Australian) is a Casino gambling machine with three Money was allocated for 2003, but disputes have come up since then. Part of the dispute is a claim by Niagara County to receive a share of the money for county government projects and another part had to do with restructuring the local commission charged with allocating the money. Niagara (electoral district Niagara County is a County located in the U Pataki has called for the money to be given to a state entity he created to spur economic development in Niagara Falls, thus leaving the money under his control, a decision that is opposed by local leaders.

Third term, 2003–2006

2002 campaign

Pataki was considered a strong contender for a third term. He ran again on a ticket with Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue and the Democrats faced a primary battle between State Comptroller Carl McCall and former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo. H Carl McCall (born October 17, 1935, in Boston Massachusetts) is a former Comptroller of New York State and was the Democratic Andrew Mark Cuomo (born December 6 1957 in Queens New York) is the New York State Attorney General. Pataki emphasized his previous work and the need to have continuity following Sept. 11.

Pataki sought the nomination of the Independence Party in his bid for a third term as well. He faced Thomas Golisano, the party's founder in his bid for the nomination. Pataki ran an active primary campaign and lost to Golisano. Donohue did win the primary for lieutenant governor and was both the running mate of Pataki and Golisano in the general election.

Pataki faced McCall and Golisano in the general election, during which he continued to empashize his past work for the state. He easily defeated the two.

Cuomo-Pataki rematch

A Pataki-Cuomo rematch nearly occurred in the 2002 election. Mario's son Andrew Cuomo announced plans to run. Andrew Mark Cuomo (born December 6 1957 in Queens New York) is the New York State Attorney General. However, he stumbled on April 17 and ultimately withdrew before the primary at the urging of his mentor Bill Clinton when Cuomo was quoted in the media as saying (regarding Pataki's performance post-9/11):

"Pataki stood behind the leader. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States He held the leader's coat. He was a great assistant to the leader. But he was not a leader. Cream rises to the top, and Rudy Giuliani rose to the top. "[1]

World Trade Center legacy

The Port Authority owns the WTC site and Larry Silverstein is the site lease holder. Governor Pataki effectively controlled development at the WTC site by the power to appoint half the Port Authority commissioners and half the LMDC board members. In late 2002, the LMDC picked a plan dubbed Project THINK to replace the 10,000,000 square feet (930,000 m²) of lost space and build a memorial. Pataki intervened to support a plan by Daniel Libeskind entitled Memory Foundations. Daniel Libeskind, (born May 12 1946 in Łódź, Poland) is an American Architect, Artist, and Set designer of Memory Foundations is the name given by Daniel Libeskind to his site plan for the World Trade Center which was selected by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation When offered a choice between the Libeskind or THINK plans, the official LMDC poll showed that the public preferred "Neither".

Although eventually most of Libeskind's plan was to be ignored it established two concepts that will define the Pataki legacy at Ground Zero — the placement (and name) of the 1,776-foot (541 m) high Freedom Tower and the concept that the memorial be below street level. 1 World Trade Center, or the Freedom Tower, is the main building of the new World Trade Center complex currently under construction in Lower Manhattan in A symbolic cornerstone for the Freedom Tower with Pataki's name was laid on July 4, 2004, and after numerous design changes, construction commenced in May, 2006.

The much-vaunted open and inclusive process never acknowledged public support for rebuilding the Twin Towers, including the Belton-Gardner Twin Towers II design, which drew national attention when it was sponsored by real estate developer Donald Trump in May 2005, and is favored by many 9/11 family-members. Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American Business magnate, Socialite, Television personality, and

In the spring of 2006, Attorney General Spitzer was quoted as saying the redevelopment was "an Enron-style debacle", and stated the LMDC was "an abject failure" that "violated its duty to the public". However in February 2007 as the new governor he unenthusiastically decided to proceed with Pataki’s plans.

United States Senate Republican Primary of 2004

In 2004, Pataki and New York GOP Chairman Sandy Treadwell faced controversy after naming moderate Assemblyman Howard Mills the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate against Senator Chuck Schumer over conservative Michael Benjamin, who held significant advantages in both fundraising and organization. The New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New York. Alexander F "Sandy" Treadwell (born March 25, 1946 London, England) is an American politician who is a longtime Republican The New York State Assembly is the Lower house of the New York Legislature, the state legislature of the U Howard D Mills III (born May 29, 1964 in Goshen New York) is an Insurance consultant and former politician from Hamptonburgh New York The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is the senior U WikipediaPersondata --> Michael Benjamin (born November 1, 1969) was born Michael Benjamin Bonheur in New York City, ^[10] Benjamin publicly accused Treadwell and Pataki of trying to muscle him out of the senate race and undermine the democratic process. ^[10] Mills went on to lose the election in the largest landslide for a Senate seat in the history of New York. ^[11]

2004 Republican Convention in New York City

Pataki was instrumental in bringing the 2004 Republican National Convention to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York City, which normally votes overwhelmingly Democratic (the Democratic Presidential candidates carried 78 percent of the city vote in both 2000 and 2004 ^[12]), had never hosted a Republican Convention. The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York He introduced President George W. Bush. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. A year prior, Pataki had boasted Bush would carry the state in the 2004 elections; Bush lost New York 58-40 to John Kerry. } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator

Voter anger with state government

In 2004, there was a growing voter dissatisfaction with how the state government conducted business. Two decades of late budgets and decision making by three men in a room on key issues led to voter anger and the defeat of several legislative incumbents. Pataki started to hold open sessions with legislative leaders on budget issues, and including the minority leaders of the Senate and Assembly in these discussions. In addition he encouraged the adoption of an ontime budget and in 2005 and 2006 the state budget was adopted on time.

State budget powers

Pataki's term had been marked with annual debates with the State Legislature over the powers allocated to the Executive and Legislative Branches on the adoption of the state budget. Pataki argued that the state constitution and court rulings gave him the power to submit a budget that allocated revenue and set policy. Pataki said the Legislature could then only change the numbers but could not change any policy decisions made in the budget document. Pataki and the Legislature ended up in court and the courts ruled in Pataki's favor, giving him more budgetary power. In 2005, the Legislature placed a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allocate more budget power to them. Pataki led a successful public information campaign to defeat this provision and to retain his budget authority. In 2006, Pataki vetoed a large part of the budget adopted by the Legislature because of these rulings.

Upstate economic development

Pataki had been criticized for not doing enough on the issue of upstate economic development. He created a series of Empire Zones statewide, which served to spur economic growth in cities by providing tax incentives for businesses. In addition, he used the state's banking laws to create banking development zones to entice banks to settle in upstate cities. Pataki considered casino gaming an economic development program for upstate and he sponsored the creation of an Indian casino in Niagara Falls and in Buffalo to spur economic development. He also promoted tourism practices for the upstate economy and created centers for excellence in the sciences in several upstate cities to spur economic growth.

Liberal Republican legacy

In 2003 Pataki made a controversial budget proposal in which he proposed several tax cuts, despite the state's rising deficits. He also made cuts in education and health care funding, which, some say, may close emergency rooms and turn non-profit hospitals into for-profits. Pataki argued that new taxes would drive businesses out-of-state, reducing jobs, further compounding the deficit.

Pataki has always been liberal on social issues. However by his third term, many conservative Republicans simmered over his continued support of abortion rights, and his heavy lobbying in favor of a gay rights bill that had languished in the state Senate for many years due to the opposition of Senate Leader Joseph Bruno. An Lobbying includes all attempts to influence Legislators and officials whether by other legislators constituents or organized groups Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender social movements share related goals of social acceptance of Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Transgenderism Lesbian Joseph L Bruno (born April 8, 1929) is an American businessman and Republican politician In 2003, Bruno finally gave in; the bill passed the senate and was signed into law by Pataki.

On July 27, 2005, Pataki announced his intention not to seek a fourth term as governor in 2006. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Campaign for Fiscal Equity

Pataki's tenure had been marked with the long-standing Campaign for Fiscal Equity suit regarding the state's funding of public education. The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE is a Not-for-profit advocacy organization seeking to protect and promote the constitutional right to a sound basic education for all public The CFE sued in order to get more state money for the New York City public schools and to guarantee a sound education for all students. Pataki fought the lawsuit, saying that the state should not pay for the increased funding and that the state constitution only guaranteed a sound education until 8th grade. Pataki filed several appeals for the decisions and the final decision will be made after he leaves office.

Mandatory pre-kindergarten

As a part of the CFE lawsuit, education advocates tried to seek state support and funding for mandatory pre-kindergarten classes in the state's public schools. Pataki blocked this measure, which had support from legislative leaders and was a pet issue of former Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross.

Hospitalization

Pataki suffered a burst appendix and had an emergency appendectomy on February 16, 2006 at Hudson Valley Hospital Center. In Human anatomy, the appendix (or vermiform appendix; also cecal (or caecal appendix; also vermix) is a blind ended tube connected to the An appendicectomy (or appendectomy) is the surgical removal of the Vermiform appendix. Six days later, he developed a post-surgical complication (bowel obstruction caused by adhesions)^[13] and was transferred to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center for a second operation. Bowel obstruction (or intestinal obstruction) is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines preventing the normal transit of the products of digestion Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs often as a result of injury during surgery NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is a prominent University hospital in New York City, composed of two medical centers Columbia University Medical Center From there, he was discharged on March 6. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Doctors advised rest at home since his conditions could last up to a month. On the week of March 20–24, 2006, he appeared at a public press conference looking fit and thinner to comment on the progress of the annual budget and the recent Campaign for Fiscal Equity CFE ruling from the New York state court. The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE is a Not-for-profit advocacy organization seeking to protect and promote the constitutional right to a sound basic education for all public During Pataki's two surgeries, when he was under anesthesia, power officially transferred to Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue, making her the state's acting governor. Pataki came under criticism when it was revealed that he and his staff did not inform Donohue that she was acting governor the first time, until after Pataki had woken up and resumed power.

State Comptroller Alan Hevesi

In October 2006 Pataki named a special counsel to investigate the allegations that State Comptroller Alan Hevesi had misued state resources when he had a state driver chauffeur his wife around. Alan G Hevesi (born January 31, 1940) is a Democratic politician who served as a New York State Assemblyman from 1968 to 1993 as Comptroller Pataki's counsel was studying whether Pataki could recommend to the State Senate that Hevesi be removed from office. The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms Pataki's special counsel recommended that Hevesi could be removed, but Pataki declined to recommend removal, saying that it would only apply for Hevesi's term expiring at the end of 2006 and not for his new term starting in 2007. After Hevesi's December 2006 resignation, Pataki briefly considered naming an interim comptroller to serve until the State Legislature named a new comptroller.

Evaluations as Governor of the state of New York

Prior to Pataki's departure New York Post political writer Frederick Dicker authored a scathing critique of Pataki's tenure, accusing the Governor of broken promises, inattentiveness to his duties, and a focus on maintaining power. The New York Post is the 13th-oldest Newspaper published in the United States and generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continually It was entitled "Good Riddance"^[14]

On Pataki's final day in office, The New York Times ran an editorial^[15] evaluating his twelve years as governor. The Times praised his work on health care and the environment. He was criticized for the lack of tangible reform and the consolidation of power under his watch. The Times was conflicted about his record on crime and the state budget.

Airplane usage

During his 1994 campaign, Pataki criticized Cuomo's use of state airplanes and said he would not use the planes as governor. In January 2007, Acting State Comptroller Tom Sanzillo announced that he was declining to pay a bill Pataki submitted to the state to lease a private plane to fly to Virginia in December 2006. Acting Comptroller Sanzillo said Pataki could have used a state plane to make the trip. Pataki flew to Virginia on state business in order to inspect steel to be used in the Freedom Tower. The bill was forwarded to the Office of Gov. Eliot Spitzer for consideration. Eliot Laurence Spitzer (born June 10, 1959) is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democratic Party. Spitzer's office ruled that Pataki's campaign committee needed to pay the bill for the private plane, since a state plane could have been used.

Lieutenant Governors

Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross

Main article: Betsy McCaughey

Pataki's 1994 running mate for lieutenant governor was Betsy McCaughey, an academic best known for her critique of the Clinton health care plan. Betsy McCaughey Ross (born Elizabeth Peterkin, October 20, 1948, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was the Lieutenant Governor of the State The Lieutenant Governor of New York is the second highest ranking official in the government of New York. Betsy McCaughey Ross (born Elizabeth Peterkin, October 20, 1948, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was the Lieutenant Governor of the State Health care is the prevention treatment and management of illness and the preservation of mental health through the services offered by the medical, Nursing McCaughey was selected because of her work on the Clinton health care plan. It is reported that Pataki choose McCaughey over sofa bed heiress Bernadette Castro for the spot. Bernadette Castro (b 1944 Manhattan New York is a New York politician and businesswoman who served in the Cabinet of former Governor George Pataki. Castro was nominated for the U. S. Senate in 1994.

McCaughey faced problems with Pataki and Pataki's staff from the start. It is reported that Pataki did not like McCaughey's relationship with the press or her public discussion of policy differences the two had. McCaughey also lost support from Pataki when she said that D'Amato had made suggestive comments to her.

In April 1997, Pataki announced that he was dropping Lt. Gov. McCaughey Ross from his 1998 reelection ticket. McCaughey Ross said she would seek elected office in 1998 either as lieutenant governor, governor or to the U. S. Senate. In September of that year, she became a Democrat and unsuccessfully sought the governorship in that party's primary. She was on the 1998 general election ballot as the nominee of the Liberal Party for governor.

Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue

Main article: Mary Donohue

After dropping McCaughey Ross from his 1998 ticket, Pataki considered several replacement running mates. Mary Donohue is a Judge of the New York Court of Claims and a former Lieutenant Governor of New York State. In the spring of 1998 he announced his choice of State Supreme Court Justice Mary Donohue for lieutenant governor. Mary Donohue is a Judge of the New York Court of Claims and a former Lieutenant Governor of New York State. It is reported that Pataki also considered State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro, Erie County Comptroller Nancy Naples and State Sen. Nancy A Naples, a member of the Board of Directors of Amtrak is the former Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in New York. Mary Lou Rath for the lieutenant governorship as well. Mary Lou Rath is a state senator in New York. A Republican, she represents the state's 61st Senate District which consists of parts of Erie County Naples would later join Pataki's Cabinet as State Motor Vehicles Commissioner.

In office, Lt. Gov. Donohue had been relegated to projects outside the governor's inner circle. She worked on school violence prevention, local government, small business, and homeland security issues. Many of her duties consisted of delivering speeches to groups around the state or filling in for Pataki at ceremonial events. Lt. Gov. Donohue has kept a generally low profile around the state.

In 2002, it was reported that Pataki considering dropping Lt. Gov. Donohue from his ticket and asking her to run for state attorney general instead. It is reported that he considered Secretary of State Randy Daniels and Erie County Executive Joel Giambra for lieutenant governor. Randy Daniels (born 1950 is an American Journalist and Educator who served as Secretary of State of New York from 2001 to 2005 Joel Giambra is the former County Executive in Erie County New York. Pataki decided to keep Lt. Gov. Donohue on as his 2002 running mate.

Donohue did not run to succeed Pataki in 2006. In December 2006, Pataki appointed Donohue to be a Judge of the New York Court of Claims. The New York State Court of Claims is the court which handles all claims against the State of New York and certain state agencies

Post Governorship

After leaving the governorship, Pataki joined the law firm Chadbourne & Parke in New York^[16] joining their renewable energy practice. Chadbourne & Parke LLP, founded in 1902 by Thomas L Chadbourne, presently has some 400 lawyers and tax advisors in 13 offices in nine countries He continued to flirt with a possible bid for President. After ruling out a presidential campaign, Pataki retained his political action committee, which he could legally use to further his own views and other political interests. In the US, a Political Action Committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group regardless of size organized to elect political candidates In addition, Pataki announced plans to form a consulting firm with his former chief of staff John Cahill and work with the Council on Foreign Relatons on climate change issues. Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences In the climate change issue, he is working with former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. Thomas James Vilsack, born December 13, 1950, is an American politician a member of the Democratic Party, and served as the 40th Governor of Pataki has announced that he has no interest in joining the Cabinet of President George W. Bush. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States.

United Nations

In September 2007, President Bush appointed Pataki as a United States delegate to the 2007 United Nations General Assembly session. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Membership For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly see General Assembly members In this capacity, Pataki attends various meetings of the UN General Assembly and GA committees on behalf of the United States, during the annual GA session. When he was appointed to the post, to which he was confirmed by the United States Senate, Pataki announced he was planning on focusing on climate change and terrorism issues while at the UN. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The UN post lasts for the length of the annual GA session.

State tickets on which Pataki has run

1994 Republican, Conservative and Freedom Party of New York Tickets

• Governor: George Pataki
• Lieutenant Governor: Betsy McCaughey
• Comptroller: Herbert London
• Attorney General: Dennis Vacco
• U.S. Senate: Bernadette Castro

1998 NYS Republican and Conservative Party Tickets

• Governor: George Pataki
• Lieutenant Governor: Mary Donohue
• Comptroller: Bruce Blakeman
• Attorney General: Dennis Vacco
• U.S. Senate: Al D'Amato

2002 NYS Republican and Conservative Party Tickets

• Governor: George Pataki
• Lieutenant Governor: Mary Donohue
• Comptroller: John Faso
• Attorney General: Dora Irizarry

References

External links

• Video of speech at cornerstone laying ceremony for the Freedom Tower on July 4, 2004
• Follow the Money — George Pataki campaign contributions
• On the Issues — George Pataki issue positions and quotes
• The New York Times — George E. Pataki News news stories and commentary
• George Pataki at the Internet Movie Database