[2] He inherited control of a construction firm from the elder George Aldridge and became a leading contractor in the city, which he used to launch his political career.

[2] In this early part of his political career he had a strong reputation for improving municipal services, including the fire and police departments.

[2] Through the management of his father's contacts and patronage in the expanding city government, Aldridge built a powerful machine.

[2] In January 1895,[6] Aldridge was appointed the Superintendent of Public Works by Governor (and former Vice President of the United States) Levi P. Morton.

[14][15] Aldridge again sought higher office in 1910 by running in the House election in the 32nd district following the death of incumbent James Breck Perkins.

[18] After Merton E. Lewis succeeded Aldridge as acting mayor, a local Good Government League formed to promote an independent school board and other municipal improvements.

[19] Aldridge's chosen successor, Hiram Edgerton, lost to Municipal Court Judge George E. Warner, a Democrat, in the 1895 election.

[23] Although he lost his bids to become a member of the U.S. Congress or Governor, Aldridge remained a well-known Republican party boss in Rochester and New York state.

[2] The triumvirate later became the "Big Four" of Republican state politics with Aldridge working alongside U.S. Representative William L. Ward, Fred Greiner (veteran of Erie County), and James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. of Western New York.

Then-Collector Byron Newton implied the nomination was a quid pro quo, sarcastically commenting "we should all admire a prompt paymaster".