David Catania
American politician (born 1968)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David A. Catania (born January 16, 1968)[4] is an American politician and lawyer from Washington, D.C. He was formerly an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, which he gave up to pursue an unsuccessful run in the 2014 mayoral election.
David Catania | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district | |
| In office December 15, 1997 – January 2, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Arrington Dixon |
| Succeeded by | Elissa Silverman |
| Commissioner of the District of Columbia for district 1D01 | |
| In office 1997–1999 | |
| Preceded by | Kathleen M. Early[1][2] |
| Succeeded by | Lance P. Salonia[3] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 16, 1968 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Party | Independent (2004–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (before 2004) |
| Spouse |
Bill Enright (m. 2017–2021) |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS, JD) |
Early life and education
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Catania is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and Georgetown University Law Center.
D.C. Council
He was elected to the council as a Republican in a 1997 special election with 7% voter turnout,[5] but elected to a full term in 1998, and re-elected in 2002 and 2006.[6][7] Catania lives in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.[7]
Catania was the first openly gay member of the D.C. Council and one of a small number of openly gay Republican office-holders.[6] 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.[8] Catania announced his endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, one week prior to the convention.[9] In September 2004, Catania left the party and became an independent, citing his displeasure with its direction on urban and social issues.[10][11] He was re-elected in 2006 and 2010 as an independent.[6]
Catania was most recently the chairperson of the council's Committee on Education and was a member of the Committee on Government Operations, the Committee on Finance and Revenue, and the Committee on Health. Catania chaired the Committee on Health between 2005 and 2012.[citation needed] As one of two openly gay members then serving on the council, Catania played a major role in the city's recognition of same-sex unions and legalization of same-sex marriage.[6][12][13][14]
Positions
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Catania opposed terms limits for elected officials. In 2001, Catania voted in favor of legislation that overturned the results of a popular referendum limiting members of the D.C. Council to two terms.[15][16]
Post-Council career
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In 2014, Catania was unsuccessful in a bid for mayor of Washington, D.C. In 2015, he joined the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, where he focuses his practice on healthcare, government law and strategy, and public policy.[17]
In 2018, he served as the U.S. Head of Public Affairs for Starship Technologies, a robotic delivery company.[18] In February, Catania opened a District-based lobbying firm with Benjamin Young, his former chief of staff and campaign manager.[19]
In 2018, Catania was campaign co-chair for S. Kathryn Allen, a former insurance executive who sought Catania's former seat on the council, held by Elissa Silverman.[19] An investigation determined that more than half of Allen's signatures were fraudulently collected and her name was not included on the ballot.[20]
Personal life
Catania married floral designer Bill Enright on August 5, 2017, in a ceremony officiated by his former Council colleague Mary Cheh.[21] Catania and Enright finalized their divorce on July 21, 2021.[citation needed]