George Pataki

Bio:
George Pataki (born George Elmer Pataki on June 24, 1945 in Peekskill, New York) is an American politician. After graduating Peekskill High School in 1964, George enrolled at Yale University on an academic scholarship. He was classmates with future-president George W. Bush. George graduated in just three years, before receiving his law degree from Columbia University in 1970. While practicing law in his hometown, George befriended Michael C. Finnegan, who would manage George’s political career. First, George was elected mayor of Peekskill in 1981. In 1984, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, serving four consecutive terms. In 1992, George ran for the New York State Senate, serving one term before he ran for Governor of New York in 1994. As part of the “Republican Revolution,” George barely defeated then-Governor Mario Cuomo. He is one of only three Republican New York governors since 1923. George decided to not run for a fourth term in 2006. After leaving the governorship, President Bush made George a US delegate to the UN General Assembly in 2007. George traveled to Iowa in 2009, sparking speculation that he would run for the Republican Nomination in the 2012 presidential election. Though he declined to run in 2012, George announced in May 2015 that he would seek the Presidency of the United States in 2016.

Best Known For:
George Pataki is best known as the Governor of New York from 1995 to 2006

Personal Life:  
George knows many languages, as he’s able to speak a little Hungarian, as well as Spanish, French and German. George is married to Libby Rowland. Together, they have four children: daughters Emily and Allison and sons Teddy and Owen.