Mary O'Connor Donohue (born March 22, 1947) is an American retired educator, attorney, politician and judge. A Republican, she served as lieutenant governor of New York from 1999 to 2006.
Education
Donohue graduated from the College of New Rochelle and received a master's degree in Education from Russell Sage College. In 1983, she received a Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School.
Career
Donohue is a former teacher and lawyer who was once an aide to State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
In 1996, she was elected as a justice of the New York State Supreme Court. She and Gov. Pataki won their 1998 election and were re-elected in 2002. Donohue served as the lieutenant governor of New York from 1999 to 2006.
When Donohue became lieutenant governor, Gov. Pataki appointed her to head a special task force on school violence issues.
On December 13, 2006, Pataki nominated Donohue to a seat as a judge of the New York Court of Claims. She was confirmed that day by the State Senate for term expiring in March 2015. Court of Claims Judges preside over lawsuits against the State of New York and various independent state agencies. She took office as a judge after her term as lieutenant governor expired at midnight on December 31, 2006. She retired from the Court of Claims in May 2009.
Electoral history
- 2002 race for governor and lieutenant governor
- George Pataki and Mary Donohue (R) (inc.), 49%
- Carl McCall and Dennis Mehiel (D), 34%
- Tom Golisano and Mary Donohue (I), 14%
- 2002 Independence Party primary for lieutenant governor
- Mary Donohue (inc.), 64%
- William J. Neild, 36%
- 1998 race for governor and lieutenant governor
- George Pataki and Mary Donohue (R) (inc.), 54%
- Peter Vallone and Sandra Frankel (D), 33%
- Tom Golisano and Laureen Oliver (I), 8%
- Betsy McCaughey Ross and Jonathan C. Reiter (L), 1.4%
See also
- List of female lieutenant governors in the United States