As "Democrats for Pataki" we believe that now more than ever, we need to stand together, unified, in a spirit of non-partisanship. We have a proven leader, a leader that has guided New York State from crisis to comeback before – that leader is Governor George Pataki. As "Democrats for Pataki" committee members will urge fellow Democrats to support Governor Pataki's efforts to REBUILD, RESTORE, and RENEW New York State.

"Democrats for Pataki" will recruit and encourage Democrats from across New York State to support popular Republican Governor George Pataki. Co-Chaired by influential New York Democrats, Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, State Senator Olga Mendez, and Reverend Dr. Franklyn Richardson II, the "Democrats for Pataki" effort will harness widespread Democratic support for Governor Pataki's leadership, policies and record of accomplishment.

"Democrats for Pataki" was formed in the belief that people of all backgrounds and political persuasion should stand together in support of Governor Pataki because he has a proven record of successful leadership for all New Yorkers.

If you believe, as we do, that Governor Pataki is the kind of leader New York State needs to face the challenges of the future, please join "Democrats for Pataki".

Edward I. Koch

Edward Irving Koch was born in the Bronx on December 12, 1924. He served as the 105th Mayor of New York City for three terms from 1978 to 1989. In 1989, he ran for a fourth term as Mayor and was defeated by David Dinkins in the Democratic primary. Prior to being Mayor, Mr. Koch served for nine years as a Congressman and two years as a member of the New York City Council. He attended City College of New York from 1941 to 1943. In his last year of college, he was drafted into the Army where he served with the 104th Infantry Division. He received two battle stars and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1946. In that year, he also attended the New York University School of Law. He received his L.L.B. degree in 1948, and began to practice law immediately thereafter. In 1981, CCNY awarded Mr. Koch a B.A. degree.

Mr. Koch is credited with many major achievements as Mayor. First and foremost, he restored fiscal stability to the City of New York, and he was responsible for placing the City on a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) balanced budget basis with ten such balanced budgets during his administration.

He is currently a partner in the law firm of Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman LLP. He is a commentator for Bloomberg Television, and hosts a weekly show on Bloomberg radio. He writes movie reviews, which are published weekly in The Villager newspaper. Mr. Koch is a columnist with Senator Al D'Amato for New York magazine, and he and Senator D'Amato also appear on a weekly NY1 News show. In the fall of 2001, Mr. Koch began a series of lectures at Baruch College.

Mr. Koch is the author of several books and articles. His book titles include: Mayor, 1984; Politics, 1985; His Eminence And Hizzoner, 1989; All The Best, 1990; Citizen Koch, 1992; Ed Koch On Everything, 1994; Murder At City Hall, 1995; Murder On Broadway, 1996; Murder on 34th Street, 1997; The Senator Must Die, 1998; Giuliani: Nasty Man, 1999; I'm Not Done Yet: Remaining Relevant, 2000).

W. Franklyn Richardson

The Reverend Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson II is Senior Pastor of the 4000 member Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York. Though Richardson is regarded both nationally and internationally as a religious leader, his career interests and competence has gone far beyond religious circles alone. He is a national advocate for economic equity and his counsel and advice is widely sought in some of the major corporate boardrooms of the nation. A community builder and organizer, he has been involved in the brick and mortar realities of housing development and is singularly responsible for leveling the ground in public education in the Mount Vernon community.

Dr. Richardson is a graduate of Virginia Union University (BA), Yale Divinity School (M. Div.) and holds an earned doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio (D. Min) in African-American Studies with a specialization in Community Development. Currently Dr. Richardson is an Adjunct Professor at United serving as Mentor for his second cohort of doctoral candidates (1996-2001).

A man of intuitive reason and an incisive mind, be has been able to demonstrate in his person the marvelous wedding of passion and intellect. His conceptual prowess is generously complemented by his analytical skills. It is the embodiment of his persona that has catapulted him to leadership positions too numerous to recite. Along the way he has served for twelve years as the General Secretary of the 8 million members National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. which service thrust him into the international arena of the World Council of Churches where he served on the prestigious Central Committee. The World Council represents more than 400 Million Christians in 150 nations.

Dr. Richardson is a board member of the Congress of National Black Churches, the Constituency for Africa and the Institute of Church Administration and Management headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a trustee of the National Urban League and his alma mater, Virginia Union University in Richmond. Widely traveled in Europe, Richardson is frequently in the Middle East, on the African continent and just recently returned from an extensive visit in the Far East that included the Peoples Republic of China and South Korea.

Dr. Richardson is married to the former Inez Nunnally and they are the parents of two adult children; a daughter, Orchid Richardson-Burnside and a son, W. Franklyn Richardson, III.

Olga A. Mendez

Olga A. Mendez is the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a State Legislature in the United States mainland. Senator Mendez is also the Puerto Rican public elected official, who regardless of gender has served the longest on a state legislature in the United States. Senator Mendez represents the 28th Senate District, encompassing parts of the South and West Bronx, East Harlem, Roosevelt Island parts of North Yorkville and Upper Washington Heights.

Senator Mendez was first elected to the Senate in 1978, winning a special election with 89% of the vote. She has been reelected for eleven consecutive terms with consistently increasing margins. In fact, the 2000 election results showed Senator Mendez winning with 95% of the vote. Born in the City of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Senator Mendez received her B.S. from the University of Puerto Rico. In 1960, she was awarded her Master's Degree in Psychology from the Teacher's College at Columbia University and in 1975 she successfully defended her Doctoral Dissertation in Educational Psychology from Yeshiva University.

Prior to her election to the Senate, Senator Mendez devoted her time and energy to volunteer work with organizations that promoted good government and fair and sound public policy. The Senator is well known for her active leadership in the area of voter registration drives throughout the Nation.

The Senator's impressive record of service to the people of the State of New York has won her a variety of awards. Most recently she has been on the Civil Liberties Union Honor Roll and was bestowed the Operation Push National Citizenship Award for, as stated on the award "commitment to remove limits and increase benefits for the Nation, as through your efforts you have been a force for social change and human dignity". The Senator has received the Effective Leadership Golden Age Award for her many contributions to the Puerto Rican/Hispanic community, presented by the Latino/Gerontological Center. In Hunter College's Commencement Exercises of 1994, Senator Mendez received the prestigious Hunter College Presidential Medal of Honor, for her tireless efforts on behalf of promoting continuing education for all citizens.

A full-time legislator, Senator Mendez has devoted herself to supporting and promoting legislation, which fights discrimination and removes many of the existing barriers faced by minorities and women. Her deep commitment to good government has been in the promotion of the highest standard of ethics in public elected officials.

Senator Mendez was honored in March of 1989 as she was chosen and unanimously supported by her peers to head the newly formed Senate Democratic Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force as its President. This Task Force will be used to develop a legislative program that will address the social and economic issues of primary concern to the Puerto Rican and Hispanic community.

Carl Kruger

A lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Senator Carl Kruger was first elected to the State Senate in a special election on February 15, 1994. Prior to his election to the State Senate, Senator Kruger served as an Assistant Director of Member Services for the New York State Assembly and for ten years was the Chairperson of Community Board # 18. A full time legislator, Senator Kruger maintains a District Office at 2201 Avenue U. In keeping with his promise to be available to all of his constituents, the Senator's district office has evening and weekend hours, and is accessible to the handicapped.

Senator Kruger has quickly built a reputation for being a legislator who is tough on crime. In his first term in the Senate Senator Kruger voted in support of restoration of the death penalty, and authored and introduced an anti-crime legislative agenda which is designed to eliminate youthful offender status for violent criminals and to increase penalties for reckless and drunk driving and crimes committed with firearms.

The Senator is a member of many civic and service groups including the SUNY Health Science Center Advisory Board, Board of Trustees of the Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corporation, Advisory Board of Visions - advocates for the blind and visually impaired, and Vice-President of the Georgetowne Civic Association. Senator Kruger is also a member of the Flatbush Park Jewish Center, The Knights of Pythias Excelsior Lodge, and a former board member of Temple Hillel.

Senator Kruger is the recipient of numerous awards including: The Ram Bam Lodge of B'nai B'rith and the Civic Associations of Georgetowne, Mill-Island, Mill Basin, Farragut- Redwood, Bergen Beach and Futurama, the Metropolitan Geriatric Jewish Center, and the Glenwood Jewish Center, Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) of Flatbush. He was named Legislator of the year by the Jewish War Veterans, as well as Kingsborough Community College. He has also been honored with the Israel Solidarity Award.

Senator Kruger has a B.S. in Political Science and resides with his family in the Georgetowne portion of the District.