Patricia K. "Pat" McGee (October 12, 1934 – April 2, 2005) was a longtime New York State Assemblywoman and Senator from Franklinville, New York.

Political career

McGee was a registered Republican for her entire political career, and was frequently cross-endorsed by the Conservative Party of New York. Prior to her foray into politics, McGee worked as a secretary and administrative assistant at Franklinville Central School and the Olean campus of

Jamestown Community College Jamestown Community College is a public community college with campuses in Jamestown and Olean, New York. It is part of the State University of New York system. JCC also has extension centers in Dunkirk, New York and Warren, Pennsylvania. The ...

. McGee's political career began in 1978 as she was elected to the Cattaraugus County Legislature, where she served for 10 years, and served as that county's first female majority leader. McGee was elected in 1987 in a special election to fill the 149th Assembly District seat caused by the resignation of longtime incumbent Daniel B. Walsh of Olean. Walsh had resigned in early 1987 to accept a policy position with the Business Council of New York State. In the assembly, McGee served on many committees. In 1998, she was tapped to replace Jess Present, who had recently died, in the New York State Senate. Moving to the Republican-dominated Senate led to McGee earning the title of chairperson on the Agriculture Committee, the Commission on Rural Resources and the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, as well as serving prominently on numerous other committees. She was often seen as a conservative maverick; she was one of only seven Senate votes who opposed an increase in the state's minimum wage, on the principle that it would put her Southern Tier district at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring counties in Pennsylvania. McGee was instrumental in helping her longtime associate in the State Senate,

Randy Kuhl John Randolph Kuhl Jr. (born April 19, 1943) is an American Republican politician. He is a former member of the New York State Assembly, the New York State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. Kuhl represented New York's 29th ...

, get elected to Congress in 2004. Kuhl had served as state senator in a neighboring district to McGee's. In addition to her legislative work, McGee was also a frequent columnist. Her columns, more than simply press releases, were published in the ''Cattaraugus County Chronicle'' and later on her own Web site.

Death and legacy

On April 2, 2005, McGee died at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in

Kenmore, New York Kenmore is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 15,423 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. Kenmore is in the south part of the town of Tonawanda, and together with t ...

due to

pulmonary fibrosis Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become scarred over time. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss, and nail clubbing. Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, respiratory failu ...

. To this day, McGee is seen in a high regard as a New York State politician, and her status in Cattaraugus County borders on legendary. The

Pat McGee Trail The Pat McGee Trail is a rail trail in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, named for Patricia McGee (1934-2005). Background Pat McGee was an area legislator of Cattaraugus County who lived in Franklinville, New York, Cattaraugus, New York Cattaraugus is a village in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 996 at the 2020 census. The village lies in the northeast part of the town of New Albion, north of Salamanca. History In 1828, the brothers Calvin an ...

Salamanca, New York Salamanca ( Seneca: ''Onë:dagö:h'') is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, inside the Allegany Indian Reservation, one of two governed by the Seneca Nation of New York. The population was 5,929 at the 2020 census. It was na ...

, bears her name. McGee was succeeded in the State Senate by Catharine Young.

External links

Article from the Olean Times Herald on McGee's passing
* {{DEFAULTSORT:McGee, Patricia Republican Party New York (state) state senators Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly County legislators in New York (state) People from Franklinville, New York 1934 births 2005 deaths Women state legislators in New York (state) Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians 21st-century American women