David Catania

David Catania, November 2007

David A. Catania (born January 16, 1968)^[1] is an American politician and lawyer from Washington, D.C. He is currently a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, where he serves as an independent, elected at-large (i.e., not from any specific ward of the city).

Biography

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Catania is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and Georgetown University Law Center. He was elected to the Council as a Republican in a 1997 special election with 7% voter turnout,^[2] but elected to a full term in 1998, and re-elected in 2002 and 2006.^[3][4] Catania lives in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.^[4]

Catania was the first openly gay member of the D.C. Council and one of a small number of openly gay Republican office-holders.^[3] This led to a conflict within his party when President George W. Bush spoke in favor of an amendment to the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Catania opposed the amendment and became a vocal opponent of Bush's 2004 re-election. In response, the District of Columbia Republican Committee decertified him as a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention.^[5] Catania announced his endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, one week prior to the convention.^[6] In September 2004, Catania left the party and became an independent, citing his displeasure with its direction on urban and social issues.^[7][8] He was re-elected in 2006 as an independent.^[3]

Catania currently is the chairperson of the Council's Committee on Health and is a member of the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, the Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, and the Committee on Finance and Revenue. As one of two openly gay members currently serving on the Council, Catania has played a major role in the city's recognition of same-sex unions and legalization of same-sex marriage.^{[3][9][10][11]}

References

1. ^ "David A. Catania". The Washington Post (highbeam.com): pp. T11. January 6, 2005. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11012.html. Retrieved July 16, 2008. 
2. ^ Janofsky, Michael (December 11, 1997). "Washington Council Election May Forecast Change". The New York Times (nytimes): pp. A22. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/11/us/washington-council-election-may-forecast-change.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Craig, Tim (December 15, 2009). "Poised to mark a milestone: For D.C. Council member, same-sex marriage bill a personal and professional victory". The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com): pp. B01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/14/AR2009121403600.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Silverman, Elissa (October 29, 2006). "For Catania, Mellowing With Age, Incumbency". The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com): pp. C01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/28/AR2006102801285.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
5. ^ Williams, Vanessa (May 28, 2004). "Catania Leaves D.C. GOP Over Convention Seat: Ouster as Delegate Tied To Opposition to Bush". The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com): pp. B01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61775-2004May27.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
6. ^ Hsu, Spencer S.; Williams, Vanessa (August 30, 2004). "Gay Activists Demand a Seat in 'Big Tent': Pataki, Specter Among Allies at N.Y. Rally". The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com): pp. A07. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45198-2004Aug29.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
7. ^ Williams, Vanessa (September 29, 2004). "Catania to Become Independent Today". The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com): pp. B02. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58101-2004Sep28.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
8. ^ O'Bryan, Will (October 7, 2004). "Dropping the GOP: David Catania's new political life as an independent". Metro Weekly (metroweekly.com). http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=1269. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
9. ^ "DC approves same-sex marriage law". BBC News (news.bbc.co.uk). May 6, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8034601.stm. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
10. ^ Mieszkowski, Katherine (April 7, 2009). "Same-sex marriage: Who's next?". Salon (salon.com). http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/feature/2009/04/07/vermont. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 
11. ^ Craig, Tim (December 15, 2009). "D.C. Council approves bill legalizing gay marriage: Bill heads to Fenty's desk, still must survive congressional review period". The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/12/11/ST2009121102889.html. Retrieved December 15, 2009. 

External links

• Councilmember David A. Catania official website
• "David A. Catania: D.C. politician doesn't pull punches", photo essay by The Washington Post

Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by Arrington Dixon	At-Large Member, Council of the District of Columbia 1997 – present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Catania, David
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	January 16, 1968
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death