Kathleen Patterson
Encyclopedia
Kathleen "Kathy" Patterson (b. June 21, 1948) is a politician
from Washington, D.C.
From 1995 to 2007, she was a Democratic
member of the Council of the District of Columbia
, where she served as the elected member for Ward 3, a post now held by Mary Cheh
.
Patterson ran for council chairman and was beaten in a landslide by Vincent C. Gray
on September 12, 2006. Her election loss was attributed to racial politics by some Patterson supporters, while others felt that her tough-talking style was too abrasive to lead the council. Patterson said afterwards, "I have no apologies, and I have no regrets." (Washington Post, Sept 13, 2006)
Originally from Chico, California
, Patterson came to the District in January 1977 to be a Washington correspondent for The Kansas City Star
. She is the mother of two children, Gillian and Patrick.
Patterson ran for council in 1994, presenting herself as a parent concerned about public education in the District. At the time she was working as communications director for the American Public Welfare Association, a national nonprofit organization that represents state human service agencies and works with Congress
and the White House
on poverty and children's issues. Her grassroots campaign successfully ousted two-term incumbent James E. Nathanson
in the Democratic primary. The voters of Ward 3 returned her to the Council three times, in 2002 with nearly 80 percent of the vote.
On the council, Patterson focused on fiscal responsibility, stronger public schools, and accountability from District government officials. She served as chair of the Committee on Government Operations from 1997 through 2000, the Committee on the Judiciary from January 2001 through 2004, and finally the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation.
Patterson holds a degree in journalism
from Northwestern University
and a master's degree in English literature from Georgetown University
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
From 1995 to 2007, she was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Council of the District of Columbia
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
, where she served as the elected member for Ward 3, a post now held by Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh
thumb|right|Mary Cheh in 2010Mary M. Cheh is a Democratic politician from Washington, D.C. In November 2006, she won a seat on the Washington, D.C. City Council representing Ward 3.-Background and family:...
.
Patterson ran for council chairman and was beaten in a landslide by Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...
on September 12, 2006. Her election loss was attributed to racial politics by some Patterson supporters, while others felt that her tough-talking style was too abrasive to lead the council. Patterson said afterwards, "I have no apologies, and I have no regrets." (Washington Post, Sept 13, 2006)
Originally from Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, Patterson came to the District in January 1977 to be a Washington correspondent for The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star is a McClatchy newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes...
. She is the mother of two children, Gillian and Patrick.
Patterson ran for council in 1994, presenting herself as a parent concerned about public education in the District. At the time she was working as communications director for the American Public Welfare Association, a national nonprofit organization that represents state human service agencies and works with Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on poverty and children's issues. Her grassroots campaign successfully ousted two-term incumbent James E. Nathanson
James E. Nathanson
James E. "Jim" Nathanson is a politician in Washington, D.C. He was elected to represent Ward 3 on the Council of the District of Columbia in 1987 and served until 1995....
in the Democratic primary. The voters of Ward 3 returned her to the Council three times, in 2002 with nearly 80 percent of the vote.
On the council, Patterson focused on fiscal responsibility, stronger public schools, and accountability from District government officials. She served as chair of the Committee on Government Operations from 1997 through 2000, the Committee on the Judiciary from January 2001 through 2004, and finally the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation.
Patterson holds a degree in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and a master's degree in English literature from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.