Potential 2016 GOP presidential hopeful George Pataki has been in politics most of his adult life. Though he went to school to pursue a law career, shortly after he graduated from college he arrived on the political scene.
Here are eight facts about Pataki’s political background.
1. Pataki’s foundation in politics came from his schooling at Yale University,
the Yale Daily News reported. During his time there he served as the chairman of the Conservative Party of the Yale Political Union. He completed his education at Yale in only three years. Pataki went on to study law at Columbia University.
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2. After graduating from Columbia with his law degree, Pataki returned home to Peekskill, New York, and began working at Plunkett and Jaffe, P.C. It was there he connected with Michael Finnegan,
according to World Heritage Encyclopedia. Finnegan would later prove to be a key in his political success and go on to manage his future campaigns.
3. Though he didn’t plan a life in politics, Pataki felt a call to service when he arrived back in Peekskill after college, as he was dissatisfied with the policies of the city's leadership. Pataki became the mayor of Peekskill in 1981, defeating the Democratic incumbent by a wide margin.
4. In 1984 Pataki ran for a seat in the New York state Assembly and won. He served in that position until he was elected to the state Senate in 1992. From there he continued to rise politically.
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5. According to the Hall of Governors, Pataki is most well known for his rise to power in 1994 when he defeated longtime New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, a presidential hopeful. Cuomo had the support of New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; Pataki had the backing of shock-jock radio host Howard Stern.
6. Though a GOP party member, Pataki doesn’t necessarily follow party lines. He is strong on gun control, supports health care for the low-income households, and is known for advocating on behalf of environmental causes.
7. Pataki’s election to the governor’s seat was the first time since Franklin D. Roosevelt served that a New York governor without roots in New York City’s five boroughs was elected into office.
8. Pataki served as the governor of New York until 2006. He was elected to three consecutive four-year terms. The Hall of Governors cites his ability to reach across party lines enabled him to garner the votes of moderates.
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