Pataki Won't Seek Re-election

[movieguy]

Pataki Won't Seek Re-election

by Doug Windsor 365Gay.com New York Bureau

Posted: July 27, 2005 8:00 pm ET

(New York City) New York Gov. George Pataki ended months of speculation Wednesday announcing that he would not seek a fourth term.

A social moderate and generally liberal on gay issues, the Republican governor has been weighing a run for the White House in 2008. He has also been looking at state polls which show him badly trailing the expected Democratic nominee for governor, Attorney General Elliot Spitzer.

In announcing his decision to leave Albany Pataki said he would follow a "new path" when his term ends, but would not say if that meant running for President.

Last October Pataki signed legislation to protect the rights of gay and lesbian hospital and nursing home patients by ensuring that their domestic partners are granted visitation rights. (story)

In 2002 he pushed through legislation to outlaw discrimination in housing and other areas based on a person's sexual orientation.

But, the governor has stopped short of supporting same-sex marriage. Pataki and Spitzer are on opposite sides of the marriage issue.

Last year, after the mayor of New Palt egan marrying same-sex couples without marriage licenses Pataki directed Spitzer to go to court to stop the weddings.

Spitzer refused (story) but later issued a directive saying that New York law does not permit same-sex marriage, adding that he did not believe the ban would hold up in court. (story)

In February a judge in New York ruled the law unconstitutional (story). The case is one of three working their way to the state's highest court.

In May Spitzer reaffirmed his support for gay marriage in a speech to a Rochester gay rights group. (story)

If Pataki, as expected, does throw his hat in the ring for the Republican Presidential nomination he is expected to encounter stiff opposition from Christian conservative groups who find him too gay friendly.

As for finding a replacement to run for governor under the GOP banner, former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani and current mayor Michael Bloomberg say their aren't interested. That leaves the field open.

©365Gay.com 2005

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