George Pataki

George Elmer Pataki (* June 24, 1945 in Peekskill, New York ) is an American politician of the Republican Party and was from 1995 to 2007 Governor of the State of New York.

Early years and political rise

Pataki has Hungarian, Irish and Italian roots. His name comes from his grandfather János Pataki (1883-1971), who immigrated in 1908 from Hungary to the United States. He attended Yale University until 1967 and then studied at Columbia Law School Law. After qualifying as a lawyer, he began in his birthplace of Peekskill to work in his new profession. He became a member of the Republican Party. Between 1981 and 1984 he was mayor of his home town. Between 1985 and 1992, Pataki was a deputy in the New York State Assembly; 1993 to 1994 he was a member of the State Senate. In 1994 he was elected governor of New York. He won with 48.8 percent of the vote against the longtime Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo ( 45.5 percent ), where he was supported as both his subsequent election victories by the Conservative Party.

Governor of New York

Pataki took up his new post on 1 January 1995. After two unchallenged re- election in 1998 and 2002, he was able to exercise it until 1 January 2007. In his first official New York Times about 600,000 new jobs were created in the state. The Governor promoted new technologies and economic growth. In his first two terms in office, there was a noticeable economic recovery. Then came the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 were: Since the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City was held in his state, Pataki was directly affected. He led the state through the time of sorrow and dismay. In addition to the many victims and material damage, which were lost by the attacks, they subsequently led also to an economic crisis from which the entire Western world was concerned. Only gradually was able to overcome them.

Regardless of these tragic events surrounding the September 11, 2001 put the governor for the preservation of the environment. Pataki did in 1995 to introduce the death penalty in his state again. But that failed because of the opposition of the Supreme Court of New York. However, he aggravated criminal law at the state level and made this way for a reduction in crime. In 2006, George Pataki opted not to run again. Successor was the Democrat Eliot Spitzer, who had exercised under Pataki since 1999, the Office of the Attorney General.

Further CV

After his governorship Pataki was first a lawyer and then again a delegate at the UN. In recent years his name has been repeatedly brought into the conversation when it comes to higher offices of state such as U.S. Senator, Vice President and even the presidency went. In the run-up to the 2012 presidential election, there were rumors about a possible candidacy Patakis.

Today George Pataki lives with his wife Libby in Garrison. The couple has four children.