| Pat is a fifth-generation Ulster County native, decorated combat veteran, small business owner, US Congressman, and Fmr. County Executive who lives in Gardiner with his wife Rebecca and two young children, Theo and Cameron. Pat's life has been shaped by a desire to serve his community. Growing up in Kingston, his mom, Patti, was a public school teacher at Chambers Elementary School, and his father, Kevin, ran a small business in Kingston. They taught Pat that we have an obligation to give back to our community and to take care of everyone in it - especially the most vulnerable among us.
After graduating from Kingston High School, Pat began his service to our community, attending West Point and deploying for two combat tours in Iraq as an Army intelligence officer. After leaving the military, he founded a small technology company, which grew to over 150 employees. As an executive, Pat managed a $25 million annual budget and worked to build partnerships with government and nonprofit organizations. He implemented worker-focused policies like paid family leave and created a jobs training program for veterans without college degrees, equipping them with tech skills to ensure they had high-paying jobs.
Elected in 2019, Pat served as Ulster County Executive until 2022, leading the county through a once-in-a-century pandemic, spearheading the effort to transform the former IBM site after decades of sitting dormant, providing direct financial relief to small businesses and residents, building supportive and affordable housing, and re-investing in mental health services - all while never raising taxes.
As a cadet, Pat learned and lived by the West Point motto- Duty, Honor, Country. Pat's running for Congress to bring that ethos to Washington, where it is desperately needed. Duty means that whether you are leading troops in combat, leading a small business, or leading a county, you have a duty to deliver - there is no excuse for failure. The honor code at West Point is crystal clear, "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do" as our families struggle, businesses close, our core freedoms are attacked, career politicians and greedy corporations are lying, cheating, and stealing for their own benefit. Pat will not tolerate that behavior. Pat took an oath to support and defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. With our democracy and women's right to healthcare under threat from domestic extremists, Pat will fight to protect all of our freedoms. |