Karen McCarthy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Karen McCarthy

Karen McCarthy (born March 18, 1947) is a Missouri politician. She served as the US Representative for the fifth district of Missouri from 1995 to 2005.

McCarthy was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in 1969 and became a teacher. Later, McCarthy returned to school to school and was trained at the prestigious Harvard University, from which she earned an M.B.A.

First elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1976 as a Democrat, McCarthy was re-elected eight times, generally with little opposition. She became a ranking party member in the state House. In 1994, Congressman Alan Wheat ran for U.S. Senate, leaving an open seat. McCarthy was elected to the United States House of Representatives that year, and she was re-elected four times in a heavily Democratic district.

During her last term, she fell down an escalator in the Sam Rayburn House Building while intoxicated. After that incident, she entered rehab for alcoholism. McCarthy was also accused of violating federal election law by attending the Grammy Awards using campaign funds.

In December 2003, McCarthy announced that she wouldn't seek another term in the House. She was succeeded by Emanuel Cleaver, a fellow Democrat.