Catharine Young

Catharine M. Young (born November 22, 1960) is an American politician. From May 2005 to March 2019, Young represented New York State's 57th district in the New York State Senate.[4] The district includes all of Chautauqua County, Cattaraugus County and Allegany County, as well as seven towns in Livingston County.[5]

For other similarly-named people, see Catherine Young (disambiguation).

Catharine Young
Young (right) with Rep. Randy Kuhl
Member of the New York Senate
from the 57th district
In office
May 11, 2005 – March 10, 2019
Preceded byPatricia McGee
Succeeded byGeorge Borrello
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 149th district
In office
January 1, 1999 – May 10, 2005
Preceded byPatricia McGee
Succeeded byJoseph Giglio
Personal details
Born (1960-11-22) November 22, 1960[1]
Livingston County, New York[2]
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Richard[3]
ChildrenThree[3]
ResidenceOlean, New York[2]
Alma materSt. Bonaventure University[3]
ProfessionPolitician
WebsiteOfficial website

Prior to serving as Senator, Young represented New York's 149th State Assembly district from 1999 to 2005. She is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and education

A Livingston County native, Young grew up on a farm.[6] She attended State University of New York at Fredonia, where she met her future husband, Richard. Following a transfer, she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in mass communication from St. Bonaventure University.

Early political career

Young was elected to the Chautauqua County Legislature in 1995.[6]

Young first ran for New York State Assembly in 1998. When veteran Republican New York State Senator Jess Present died in August 1998 and was succeeded by Republican Assemblymember Patricia McGee, McGee's Assembly seat became vacant. Running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines, Young defeated her Democratic opponent, Patrick Tyler, by a margin of 19,337 votes to 12,045 votes.[7] Young served in the Assembly from 1999 to 2005.[8]

New York Senate

After Sen. Patricia McGee died in office in 2005, Young was nominated to replace her.[9] In a May 2005 special election,[9] Young defeated Democrat Nancy Bargar, 29,559 votes to 12,800 votes.[10]

Rarely facing more than token opposition in subsequent campaigns, Young was unopposed in 2006 and won 78 percent of the vote against 2008 challenger Christopher Schaeffer.[11] Mentioned as a potential candidate in 2010 to run against Eric Massa for New York's 29th congressional district,[12] 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. According to Young, maintaining her Senate seat would give Upstate New York more of a voice in state government.[13]

Young has chaired the Agriculture Committee and the state’s Rural Resources Commission[6] as well as the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.[14] In 2016, Young was named Chair of the Senate Finance Committee; she was the first woman to hold that position.[15]

After losing 14-9 in a November 2018 attempt to oust incumbent Senate Republican Leader John J. Flanagan[16] and being replaced as chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in December 2018,[17] Young announced on February 28, 2019 that she was resigning from the Senate[18] effective March 10, 2019.[10] Young indicated that she would begin work as Executive Director for the Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture at Cornell University's AgriTech campus in Geneva, New York on March 11, 2019.[19][4]

Social issues

On December 2, 2009, Young voted against same-sex marriage legislation that failed to pass the Senate.[20] She again voted against the Marriage Equality Act when it came before the Senate on June 24, 2011; the bill passed nonetheless.[21]

Young voted in favor of the State Senate's version of the Women's Equality Act in June 2013, which did not include the State Assembly's provisions for expanding abortion rights.[22]

Support for areas declared disasters

In 2014, Young was recognized for helping to achieve the award of $700,000 in compensation monies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Gowanda, New York as a result of the devastating flood that occurred there in 2009.[23][24] In 2009, a flash flood devastated the village, causing two deaths. Four feet of flood waters swept through the village, and caused much damage.[23][24] The village was declared both a state and federal disaster site.[23][24]

Of the anticipated disbursement of FEMA monies to Gowanda, New York due to the 2009 flood damage experienced there, Young is quoted, stating in the January 31, 2014 edition of Dunkirk's Observer:

Our people suffered a great deal of hardship and heartache because of the devastating 2009 flood, and they should not have to shoulder the heavy financial burden of repairing the village's basic infrastructure. This release of long overdue FEMA dollars not only helps to heal these wounds, but it allows the village to move forward towards a brighter future. I commend Governor Cuomo and everyone who worked together to cut through bureaucratic red tape so that this progress finally could be made. It has a very positive effect on many lives.[24]

See also

References
  1. "State Senate: Catharine M. Young (R), District 57". Capitol Info. Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  2. "Senator Catharine M. 'Cathy' Young (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  3. "Catharine Young: Biography". New York State Senate. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  4. "Senator Cathy Young to Leave Office March 10 to Take Job at Cornell, Releases Statement". WRFA-LP 107.9 FM. February 28, 2019.
  5. Gould, Justin (March 13, 2019). "Chautauqua County GOP Tabs Borrello To Fill Vacated State Senate Seat".
  6. Reporter, Rick Miller. "Young excited at opportunity in new Cornell position". The Salamanca Press.
  7. https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/1998/ASSMWEB.pdf
  8. https://news.wbfo.org/post/cathy-young-leaving-state-senate-job-cornells%5B%5D
  9. https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/05/09/daily24.html
  10. Herald, RICK MILLER, Olean Times. "Sen. Catharine Young, with farming roots, excited over opportunity in new Cornell position". Olean Times Herald.
  11. Rukavina, Michael (November 5, 2008). "Young wins, state GOP loses". The Observer. Dunkirk, NY.
  12. 20th district result could affect Massa, Roll Call, 2 April 2009.
  13. Young responds to Massa resignation, WGRZ, Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  14. "Sen. Cathy Young: 'GOP must keep control of NYS Senate'". Des Moines Register.
  15. Herald, RICK MILLER, Olean Times. "Young: Democratic control of Senate 'detrimental to Upstate'". Olean Times Herald.
  16. Lombardo, David (November 16, 2018). "John Flanagan will continue to helm GOP Senate conference". Times Union.
  17. December 21, Rachel Silberstein on; AM, 2018 at 11:34 (December 21, 2018). "Flanagan rewards upstate loyalists with leadership posts". Capitol Confidential.
  18. Precious, Tom (February 28, 2019). "Catharine Young to resign her State Senate post in two weeks".
  19. "Catharine Young to lead Center of Excellence at Cornell AgriTech". Cornell Chronicle.
  20. News beats politics survey Archived February 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, New York News 1, New York, NY: Time Warner Cable, 2009.
  21. Johnston, Garth. "FINALLY: NY State Senate Passes Gay Marriage". Gothamist. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  22. State Senate passes historic women's legislation, Chautauqua Today, Dunkirk, NY: Chautauqua Today, 22 June 2013, Larson, G., Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  23. Gowanda to receive $700K in FEMA funding, The Post-Journal, Jamestown, NY: The Post Journal, 31 January 2014, Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  24. Over $700K going to Gowanda, The Observer, Dunkirk, NY, 31 January 2014, Retrieved 10 February 2014.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
Patricia McGee		 New York State Assembly, 149th District
1999–2005		 Succeeded by
Joseph Giglio
New York State Senate
Preceded by
Patricia McGee		 New York State Senate, 57th District
2005–2019		 Succeeded by
George Borrello
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