Melinda Katz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melinda Katz
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Katz in 2015
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| District Attorney of Queens County | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | John M. Ryan (acting) |
| 19th Borough President of Queens | |
| In office January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Helen M. Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Lee |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 29th district |
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| In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Karen Koslowitz |
| Succeeded by | Karen Koslowitz |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 28th district |
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| In office 1994–1999 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Hevesi |
| Succeeded by | Michael Cohen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 29, 1965 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Domestic partner | Curtis Sliwa (sep. 2014) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | David Katz (father) |
| Education | University of Massachusetts, Amherst (BA) St. John's University, New York (JD) |
Melinda R. Katz (born August 29, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician from New York City. She currently serves as the top prosecutor, known as the district attorney, for Queens. She started this role on January 1, 2020. Melinda Katz is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming District Attorney, she was the Queens Borough president. She also served as a member of the New York City Council from 2002 to 2009. In 2019, she won the election to become the District Attorney for Queens.
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Early Life and Education
Melinda Katz grew up in a neighborhood called Forest Hills, Queens. She comes from a Jewish family that was very involved in their community. Her father, David Katz, started the Queens Symphony Orchestra in 1953. Her mother, Jeanne Dale Katz, founded the Queens Council on the Arts.
Melinda Katz went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated with high honors. Later, she earned a law degree from St. John's University School of Law.
Career in Public Service
After law school, Melinda Katz worked at a law firm called Weil, Gotshal & Manges. She worked there for several years before deciding to run for public office. In 1995, a newspaper called the New York Daily News recognized her as one of the top young leaders for the future.
New York State Assembly
Melinda Katz served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1994 to 1999. She represented the 28th District in Queens, which included areas like Forest Hills and Rego Park. During her time in the Assembly, she helped create sixteen new laws. Some of these laws were important for healthcare. For example, she wrote a law that allowed women to see a gynecologist directly without needing to see a regular doctor first. She also led a special committee focused on health in cities.
New York City Council
From 1999 to 2002, Katz worked for the Queens Borough President's office, helping with community boards. Then, she won a seat on the New York City Council, where she served from 2002 to 2009. She represented the 29th district, which included Forest Hills, Rego Park, and Kew Gardens.
On the City Council, Melinda Katz was the leader of the Committee on Land Use. This committee was in charge of approving changes to how land could be used in different parts of the city. She oversaw the rezoning of many city blocks, including a large area in Greenpoint-Williamsburg in 2005.
Borough President of Queens
In 2012, Melinda Katz announced she would run for Queens Borough President. A Borough President is like a mayor for one of New York City's five boroughs. They help manage local services and represent the borough's residents. She received support from other politicians and unions. She won the Democratic Party's nomination and then easily won the main election. She was re-elected for a second term in 2017.
Queens District Attorney
In December 2018, Melinda Katz announced she was running for Queens District Attorney. The District Attorney is the chief prosecutor for a county, meaning they lead the legal team that brings criminal cases against people. In the Democratic primary election, Katz faced another candidate named Tiffany Cabán.
The election was very close. After the first count of votes, Cabán had a small lead. However, after all the votes were counted, Katz was ahead by just 20 votes. This led to a recount of all the ballots. On July 29, 2019, the Board of Elections confirmed that Katz had won by 60 votes. Cabán later accepted the results. Melinda Katz officially started her role as Queens District Attorney on January 6, 2020.
Personal Life
Melinda Katz has two children. She lives with her children in Forest Hills, Queens. She was in a relationship with Curtis Sliwa, who founded the Guardian Angels. They separated in 2014.
