David Catania

David A. Catania (born January 16, 1968)[1] 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 byArrington Dixon
Succeeded byElissa Silverman
Personal details
Born (1968-01-16) January 16, 1968
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyIndependent (2004–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (before 2004)
Spouse(s)
Bill Enright
​
(m. 2017)​
EducationGeorgetown 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,[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 and 2010 as an independent.[3]

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. 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.[3][9][10][11]

Positions

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.[12][13]

Post-Council career
DC Capital Pride Parade, 2014

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.[14]

In 2018, he served as the U.S. Head of Public Affairs for Starship Technologies, a robotic delivery company.[15] In February, Catania opened a District-based lobbying firm with Benjamin Young, his former chief of staff and campaign manager.[16]

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.[16] An investigation determined that more than half of Allen's signatures were fraudulently collected and her name was not included on the ballot.[17]

Personal

Catania married floral designer Bill Enright on August 5, 2017 in a ceremony officiated by his former Council colleague Mary Cheh.[18]

References
  1. "David A. Catania". The Washington Post. highbeam.com. January 6, 2005. pp. T11. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  2. Janofsky, Michael (December 11, 1997). "Washington Council Election May Forecast Change". The New York Times. nytimes. pp. A22. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  3. 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. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  4. Silverman, Elissa (October 29, 2006). "For Catania, Mellowing With Age, Incumbency". The Washington Post. washingtonpost.com. pp. C01. 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. 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. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  7. Williams, Vanessa (September 29, 2004). "Catania to Become Independent Today". The Washington Post. washingtonpost.com. pp. B02. 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. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  9. "DC approves same-sex marriage law". BBC News. news.bbc.co.uk. May 6, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  10. Mieszkowski, Katherine (April 7, 2009). "Same-sex marriage: Who's next?". Salon. salon.com. 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. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  12. Chan, Sewell (January 9, 2001). "D.C. Council Considers Repeal of Term Limits". Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  13. Washington Times (May 3, 2001). "Up with term limits". Washington Times. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  14. Reed, Tina (March 18, 2015). "David Catania lands health role at Greenburg Traurig". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  15. Sidman, Jessica (May 11, 2018). "More Delivery Robots Are Coming to DC". Washingtonian. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  16. Schwartzman, Paul (June 29, 2018). "Why a progressive D.C. lawmaker is suddenly facing opposition". Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  17. Nirappil, Fenit (September 11, 2018). "Board boots business-backed council candidate from D.C. ballot, citing signature fraud". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  18. Chibbaro, Jr., Lou (August 9, 2017). "Catania weds in ceremony performed by Council colleague". The Washington Blade. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by
Arrington Dixon		 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from the at-large district
1997–2015		 Succeeded by
Elissa Silverman
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