Kathy Castor

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Kathy Castor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded by Jim Davis
Personal details
Born August 20, 1966 (1966-08-20) (age 45)
Miami, Florida
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) William Lewis
Residence Tampa, Florida
Alma mater Emory University, Florida State University
Profession Attorney
Religion Presbyterian

Kathy Castor (born August 20, 1966) is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 11th congressional district, serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

The district covers most of the city of Tampa, most of south St. Petersburg, a small portion of unincorporated Hillsborough County, a small section of the city of Temple Terrace and a small section of Manatee County.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Castor is the daughter of former University of South Florida President, former Hillsborough County Commissioner, former Florida State Senator, former Florida Education Commissioner and 2004 United States Senate candidate Betty Castor; and Don Castor, a Hillsborough County judge. She was born in Miami and raised in Tampa. She holds a bachelors degree in political science from Emory University (1988) and a J.D. from Florida State University College of Law (1991). She is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

[edit] Legal career

Castor began her legal career as Assistant General Counsel to the Florida Department of Community Affairs where she enforced growth management laws throughout the state of Florida. She is the former President of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and partner in a statewide law firm. In 2005, Castor was named as the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Woman of the Year in government.

[edit] Early political career

Castor served on the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners from 2002 through 2006. Her primary focus was on health care. She worked to stop seniors and other patients in Hillsborough County’s health care plan from being forced into HMOs.

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Party leadership

On September 29, 2008, Castor voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.[1] She was the only Florida Democrat to do so. On October 3, 2008, Castor was once again the only Florida Democrat (and one of 63 House Democrats) to vote against the bailout bill.

[edit] Political campaigns

[edit] 2006

The House seat in the district became open when five-term Democrat Jim Davis (D) chose to run for governor (he lost to Charlie Crist in November).

Castor won the September 5, 2006 Democratic primary, defeating challengers Al Fox, Lesley "Les" Miller, Scott Farrell, and Michael Steinberg. She received 54% of the vote, a full 20 points ahead of state Senate Minority Leader Les Miller in the five-way race.

Eddie Adams Jr., an architect and former hospital laboratory technologist,[2] was the only Republican to file. Castor was endorsed by the pro-choice political action committee EMILY's List, the League of Conservation Voters, Oceans Champions, The Tampa Tribune, The St. Petersburg Times and The Bradenton Herald.

Castor handily won the 2006 November general election, 70% to 30%--becoming the first woman to represent Tampa and St. Petersburg in Congress, as well as only the third representative of this Tampa-based district since its creation in 1963 (it was the 10th District from 1963–67, the 6th from 1967–73, the 7th from 1973–93 and has been the 11th since 1993). However, it was generally believed that she'd already assured herself of victory by winning the primary. The 11th has long been reckoned as the only safe Democratic seat on Florida's Gulf Coast, and Republicans had only made three serious runs at the district since its creation.

[edit] 2008

Castor was reelected in November 2008 71% to 29% in a rematch with Adams.

[edit] 2010

Castor was challenged by Republican nominee Mike Prendergast, a career military officer who retired in 2008 as a Colonel in the United States Army. Castor was reelected in November 2010 with 60% of the vote to Prendergast's 40%. Though Castor won convincingly, it was still the best showing for a Republican in this district since 1994.

[edit] Personal life

Castor is married to William "Bill" Lewis and they have two daughters.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jim Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 11th congressional district

2007-Present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Vern Buchanan
R-Florida
United States Representatives by seniority
267th
Succeeded by
Yvette Clarke
D-New York
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