Cathie M. Wright (May 18, 1929 – April 14, 2012) was an American politician from California and a member of the Republican party.
Early career
A onetime Simi Valley councilwoman, Wright was serving as mayor in 1980 when she won election to the California State Assembly seat vacated by Republican Bob Cline, who had made an unsuccessful run for state senate. She represented the Ventura county based 37th district until 1992, when she opted not to seek reelection.
State senate
After 12 years in the Assembly, Wright instead ran for the open 19th state senate district held since 1980 by Republican stalwart Ed Davis, a former Los Angeles police chief. Davis didn't much like Wright (whom he dubbed "The Peroxide Princess of Simi Valley") and recruited former Assemblywoman Marion W. La Follette to run for the seat."Complete Primary Results," by A.G. Block, California Journal, July 1992, p.347. After a bitter campaign, Wright prevailed, but just barely. She won reelection easily in 1996, but California state Term Limits prevented her from seeking reelection in 2000.
Lieutenant governor race
In 1994 she became the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor by defeating moderate Assemblyman Stan Statham in the party's primary. Statham was best known for a proposal to split California into three states. Wright beat him handily but was soundly defeated by then Democratic state Controller Gray Davis in the general election."Complete Election Results," by A.G. Block, California Journal, December 1994, p.14.
Controversy
One issue that has constantly dogged Wright was her seeking the help of then Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in an effort to have a judge go easy on her daughter, who had racked up numerous traffic violations.
Electoral history
+ Member, California State Assembly: 1981–1993 Member, California State Senate : 1993–2001YearOfficeDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct1980California State Assembly District 37Arline Mathews39,83834.1%Cathie Wright66,93757.3%1982California State Assembly District 37C.W. "Dick" Stine38,57438.7%Cathie Wright55,84956%1984California State Assembly District 37noneCathie Wright105,919100%1986California State Assembly District 37William Hesse25,73623.9%Cathie Wright80,47774.6%1988California State Assembly District 37Jeffrey Marcus37,61724.9%Cathie Wright110,11172.8%1990California State Assembly District 37 Dennis A. Petrie44,77338.9%Hunt Braly 41% Cathie Wright 59%62,88154.7%1992California State Senate District 19 Hank Starr108,05238.8%Roger Campbell 29% Marion La Follete 33% Cathie Wright 38% 148,11653.2%1994California Lieutenant GovernorGray Davis4,441,42952.4%Stan Statham 37% Cathie Wright 63% 3,412,77740.3%1996California State Senate District 19John Birke97,13337.8%Cathie Wright 160,13062.2%
References
External links Cathie Wright at ballotpedia.org Cathie Wright at ourcampaigns.com Cathie Wright at votesmart.org Join California Cathie M. Wright