Christine Quinn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christine Quinn
Speaker of the New York City Council
In office January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2013
Preceded by	Gifford Miller
Succeeded by	Melissa Mark-Viverito
Member of the New York City Council from the 3rd district
In office November 2, 1999 – December 31, 2013
Preceded by	Thomas K. Duane
Succeeded by	Corey Johnson
Personal details
Born	Christine Callaghan Quinn (1966-07-25) July 25, 1966 (age 59) Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Women's Equality
Spouse	Kim Catullo ​ (m. 2012)​
Education	Trinity College, Connecticut (BA)

Christine Callaghan Quinn (born July 25, 1966) is an American politician who was a powerful leader in New York City's government. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served as the Speaker of the New York City Council.

Quinn was the third person and the very first woman to hold the job of Speaker. In 2013, she ran for mayor of New York City to replace Michael Bloomberg, but she did not win the Democratic primary election. Today, she often appears on news channels like CNN and MSNBC to share her political views.

Early Life and Education

Christine Quinn was born in Glen Cove, New York. Her parents were Mary and Lawrence Quinn, and she has one sister. Her mother sadly passed away from breast cancer in 1982.

She went to a private school on Long Island and later graduated from Trinity College in 1988. An interesting fact about her family is that her grandmother on her mother's side, Ellen Callaghan, was a survivor of the sinking of the famous ship, the RMS Titanic.

Starting a Career in Politics

Quinn's interest in politics began when she managed the City Council campaign for Thomas Duane in 1991. After he won, she worked as his chief of staff for five years. This job gave her a lot of experience in how city government works.

Later, she became the executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project. This group works to help victims of crime. She was also chosen by Mayor Rudy Giuliani to be on a special task force to improve relations between the police and the community.

Serving on the New York City Council

In 1999, Quinn was elected to the New York City Council in a special election. She represented the 3rd district, which includes neighborhoods in Manhattan like Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and Hell's Kitchen. She won easily with 89% of the vote.

She was reelected several times in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2009. During her time on the council before becoming Speaker, she was the Chair of the Health Committee. One of her major achievements was helping to pass a law that banned smoking inside all workplaces, including bars and restaurants.

Speaker of the City Council

In January 2006, the other council members elected Quinn as the Speaker of the New York City Council. This made her one of the most powerful politicians in the city. She was the first woman ever to hold this important position. She was reelected as Speaker in 2010.

Disagreements Over City Funds

As Speaker, Quinn was in charge of how the City Council's money was spent. Some council members accused her of using this power to punish those who disagreed with her by cutting funds for their districts. Quinn always said these claims were not true.

In 2008, news reports said that Quinn's office had given money to groups that didn't really exist. The money was then secretly moved to other organizations that some council members favored. Quinn said she did not know this was happening and that she had told her staff to stop the practice. The issue was investigated, but the investigation was closed without any action against her.

The Term Limits Debate

For many years, New York City had a rule called "term limits," which meant elected officials like the mayor and council members could only serve for two terms. Quinn had supported this rule.

However, in 2008, she changed her mind and supported Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to allow officials to run for a third term. She said she was worried about the city's economy and wanted experienced leaders to stay in charge. The City Council voted to change the law, which was a very controversial decision. This allowed both Bloomberg and Quinn to be elected for a third term. Many people were upset by this change, and in 2010, New Yorkers voted to bring back the two-term limit.

Helping People in Need

Under Quinn's leadership, the City Council worked to make it easier for people to use food stamps at farmers' markets, known as Greenmarkets. She also fought against a rule that required people applying for food stamps to be fingerprinted, a practice that was eventually stopped in New York City.

Running for Mayor of New York City

On March 10, 2013, Christine Quinn announced she was running for mayor of New York City. For a long time, she was seen as the top candidate to win the Democratic nomination.

However, her support for changing the term limits law became a major issue in the campaign. Her opponents used it to criticize her. As the election got closer, her lead in the polls began to shrink.

In the end, she finished third in the primary election. Bill de Blasio won the nomination and went on to become the next mayor.

Life After the City Council

After leaving the City Council, Quinn wrote a book about her life called With Patience and Fortitude—A Memoir, which was published in 2013.

In 2015, she became the president and CEO of a nonprofit organization called Women in Need (WIN). WIN is one of the largest groups in New York City that provides shelter and help to homeless women and their children. Quinn said the job felt like coming "full circle," since her first job was also helping people find housing.

Personal Life

Christine Quinn lives in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. She is married to Kim Catullo, a lawyer. They got married on May 19, 2012.

In 2014, she joined the board of Athlete Ally. This is an organization that works to end unfair treatment in sports.

See also

• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of LGBT people from New York City
• NYC Pride March