David Catania

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder David A. Catania (born January 16, 1968)<ref name=wapobio>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.

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,<ref name=nytimes>Template:Cite news</ref> but elected to a full term in 1998, and re-elected in 2002 and 2006.<ref name=wapo>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mellow>Template:Cite news</ref> Catania lives in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.<ref name=mellow/>

Catania was the first openly gay member of the D.C. Council and one of a small number of openly gay Republican office-holders.<ref name=wapo/> 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.<ref name=delegate>Template:Cite news</ref> Catania announced his endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, one week prior to the convention.<ref name=endoresement>Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2004, Catania left the party and became an independent, citing his displeasure with its direction on urban and social issues.<ref name=independent>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=metroweekly>Template:Cite news</ref> He was re-elected in 2006 and 2010 as an independent.<ref name=wapo/>

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.Template: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.<ref name=wapo/><ref name=bbc>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=salon>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=approval>Template:Cite news</ref>

Positions

File:David Catania Summer Event 44220 (14306974318).jpg

Catania speaking at an event for his 2014 mayoral campaign

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.<ref name=wp.termlimits>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=wt.termlimits>Template:Cite news</ref>

Post-Council career

File:David Catania - DC Capital Pride - 2014-06-07 (14191591368).jpg

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2018, he served as the U.S. Head of Public Affairs for Starship Technologies, a robotic delivery company.<ref name=washingtonian>Template:Cite news</ref> In February, Catania opened a District-based lobbying firm with Benjamin Young, his former chief of staff and campaign manager.<ref name=allen/>

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.<ref name=allen>Template:Cite news</ref> An investigation determined that more than half of Allen's signatures were fraudulently collected and her name was not included on the ballot.<ref name=allenend>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Catania married floral designer Bill Enright on August 5, 2017, in a ceremony officiated by his former Council colleague Mary Cheh.<ref name= weds>Template:Cite news</ref> Catania and Enright finalized their divorce on July 21, 2021.Template:Citation needed

External links

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