Catharine Young
Encyclopedia
Catharine M. "Cathy" Young (born November 22, 1960) is an American legislator on the state level who, as a member of the Republican Party
, has represented New York's 149th State Assembly
district from 1999 to 2005 and, since May 2005, the 57th State Senate
district, which includes all of Chautauqua County
, Cattaraugus County
and Allegany County
, and the lower half of Livingston County
.
, where she met her future husband, Richard and, following a transfer, graduated magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, from St. Bonaventure University
, a private, Franciscan
Catholic institution, near Cattaraugus County's largest city, Olean
. She also holds the rank of major in the Civil Air Patrol
and, between legislative sessions in the state capital, Albany
, resides with her husband and three children in Olean
died in August 1998, near the end of his fifteenth term, and was succeeded by Republican Assembly member Patricia McGee
, thus opening a vacancy for McGee's Assembly seat. Running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines, Young defeated her Democratic
opponent Patrick Tyler 19,337 to 12,045. She won by even larger margins in the 2000 and 2004 elections and ran unopposed in 2002. During her time in the Assembly, Young was named to several top leadership positions, including Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore. She also favored "Penny's Law" which provided for juvenile justice reform.
When Patricia McGee died three months into her 2005 State Senate term, Young was nominated to replace her in the May 10 special election. Running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party
, she achieved a decisive victory over her Democratic rival Nancy Bargar, 29,559 to 12,800. Appointed to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee, and co-chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission, she has also served on the Rural Resources Commission, Transportation Committee, Health Committee, Environmental Conservation Committee, Housing Committee and Insurance Committee. During her time as Agriculture chair, Young streamlined and expanded agricultural programs and championed the Dairy Assistance Program which provided state resources to dairy farmers and, following the Democratic takeover in January 2009, has been the ranking member on the Committee. On December 2, 2009 she voted against the bill, which was not passed, to legalize same-sex marriage. She again voted against the Marriage Equality Act
when it came before the Senate on June 24, 2011; the bill passed nonetheless.
Rarely facing more than token opposition in elections, she was unopposed in 2006 and won 78 percent of the vote against 2008 challenger Christopher Schaeffer. In 2010 she defeated Allegany County legislator Michael McCormick by an 85–15 margin. Mentioned as a potential candidate in 2010 to run against Eric Massa
for New York's 29th congressional district
, she stated that although the opportunity was "very tempting", her seat had to be retained in order to help Senate Republicans retake control of the chamber, thus giving Upstate New York
more of a voice in state government (even though the Senate Republican leader, Dean Skelos
, is from downstate Long Island
) and prevent gerrymandering
efforts to eliminate upstate representation.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, has represented New York's 149th State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
district from 1999 to 2005 and, since May 2005, the 57th State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
district, which includes all of Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
and Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, and the lower half of Livingston County
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
.
Education and family
A Livingston County native, Catherine Young grew up on a third-generation dairy and crops farm, and attended State University of New York at FredoniaState University of New York at Fredonia
The State University of New York at Fredonia is a four-year liberal arts college located in Fredonia, New York, United States; it is a constituent college of the State University of New York...
, where she met her future husband, Richard and, following a transfer, graduated magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, from St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, a private, Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Catholic institution, near Cattaraugus County's largest city, Olean
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
. She also holds the rank of major in the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
and, between legislative sessions in the state capital, Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, resides with her husband and three children in Olean
Political career
Catharine Young entered elective office at the age of 37 when veteran Republican New York State Senator Jess PresentJess Present
Jess J. Present was a New York State Senator from Jamestown, New York.He joined the New York State Assembly in 1966 but only stayed two terms, moving to the New York State Senate in 1968 after James F. Hastings left for the U.S...
died in August 1998, near the end of his fifteenth term, and was succeeded by Republican Assembly member Patricia McGee
Patricia McGee
Patricia K. "Pat" McGee was a longtime New York State Assemblywoman and Senator from Franklinville, New York.-Political career:...
, thus opening a vacancy for McGee's Assembly seat. Running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines, Young defeated her Democratic
New York State Democratic Committee
The New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
opponent Patrick Tyler 19,337 to 12,045. She won by even larger margins in the 2000 and 2004 elections and ran unopposed in 2002. During her time in the Assembly, Young was named to several top leadership positions, including Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore. She also favored "Penny's Law" which provided for juvenile justice reform.
When Patricia McGee died three months into her 2005 State Senate term, Young was nominated to replace her in the May 10 special election. Running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party
Independence Party of New York
The Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
, she achieved a decisive victory over her Democratic rival Nancy Bargar, 29,559 to 12,800. Appointed to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee, and co-chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission, she has also served on the Rural Resources Commission, Transportation Committee, Health Committee, Environmental Conservation Committee, Housing Committee and Insurance Committee. During her time as Agriculture chair, Young streamlined and expanded agricultural programs and championed the Dairy Assistance Program which provided state resources to dairy farmers and, following the Democratic takeover in January 2009, has been the ranking member on the Committee. On December 2, 2009 she voted against the bill, which was not passed, to legalize same-sex marriage. She again voted against the Marriage Equality Act
Marriage Equality Act
The Marriage Equality Act is a 2011 New York State law that allows gender-neutral marriages for both same- and opposite-sex couples, while prohibiting state and local courts and governments from penalizing religious and religious-supervised institutions, their employees, or clergy for refusing to...
when it came before the Senate on June 24, 2011; the bill passed nonetheless.
Rarely facing more than token opposition in elections, she was unopposed in 2006 and won 78 percent of the vote against 2008 challenger Christopher Schaeffer. In 2010 she defeated Allegany County legislator Michael McCormick by an 85–15 margin. Mentioned as a potential candidate in 2010 to run against Eric Massa
Eric Massa
-March to the Primaries:Freshman incumbent Randy Kuhl had been elected to Congress with slightly over 50% of the popular vote in a three way race in 2004. In early 2005, former U.S. Naval officer Eric J.J. Massa, a long-time friend of 2004 presidential candidate General Wesley Clark filed to run...
for New York's 29th congressional district
New York's 29th congressional district
The Twenty-ninth district of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives which covers a portion of the Appalachian mountains in New York known as the "Southern Tier." It is represented by Tom Reed...
, she stated that although the opportunity was "very tempting", her seat had to be retained in order to help Senate Republicans retake control of the chamber, thus giving Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
more of a voice in state government (even though the Senate Republican leader, Dean Skelos
Dean Skelos
Dean G. Skelos is an American politician and the Republican Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Skelos represents District 9 in the State Senate, which comprises the southwest region of Nassau County. He is the second Long Islander to hold the position of Majority...
, is from downstate Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
) and prevent gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
efforts to eliminate upstate representation.
State Assembly
- November 1998 general election, NYS Assembly, 149th AD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– CON)... 19,337 Patrick A. Tyler (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
)... 12,045
- November 2000 general election, NYS Assembly, 149th AD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 30,980 James C. Gleason, Jr. (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
)... 10,799
- November 2002 general election, NYS Assembly, 149th AD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 26,444
- November 2004 general election, NYS Assembly, 149th AD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 35,013 Fred M. Scicchitano (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
– WORWorking Families PartyThe Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
)... 11,786
State Senate
- May 2005 special election, NYS Senate, 57th SD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 29,559 Nancy Gay Bargar (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
)... 12,800
- November 2006 general election, NYS Senate, 57th SD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 55,260
- November 2008 general election, NYS Senate, 57th SD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 82,766 Christopher H. Schaeffer (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
)... 23,400
- November 2010 general election, NYS Senate, 57th SD
Catharine M. Young (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
– INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
– CON)... 67,212 Michael J. McCormick (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
)... 12,121