Melinda Katz

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Melinda Katz is an American Democratic Party politician in New York, and a member of the New York City Council from Queens. She represents the 29th Council District, which encompasses Forest Hills, Rego Park and Kew Gardens. Member Katz is presently the Chair of the Committee on Land Use of the New York City Council, and has held that position under former Council Speaker Gifford Miller and the present Council Speaker Christine Quinn. The Committee on Land Use is a critical part of the land use processes for the City mandated under the Charter of the City of New York ("ULURP"). The Committee is ultimately responsible for oversight over New York City Franchises, Zoning matters, and Landmarks and Historical Preservation.

Ms. Katz is a prominent member of the Queens County Democratic Party Organization.

In 1998 she mounted a campaign for a congressional seat in the 9th District of New York, which was being vacated by Charles Schumer, who would go on to win election to the United States Senate by defeating the incumbent at the time, Alphonse D'Amato.

In a bitterly contested, four-way Democratic primary, Katz narrowly lost-by a little over one half of one percent-to City Councilman Anthony Weiner, who is a former legislative aide to Charles Schumer. [1] Although she retained almost all of her support in the Queens' portions of the 9th congressional district, she was not able to surmount the large amount of support Weiner and other candidates garnered within the portions of the district within the borough of Brooklyn.

Prior to running for Congress, Katz served as a New York State Assemblywoman, representing Queens. She was elected in a 1994 special election after Alan Hevesi resigned the Assembly seat to become city comptroller. She was reelected to the seat in the 1994 and 1996 general elections, giving up the the seat for the congressional race. From 1999 until her swearing in as a councilwoman in 2002, she served as Director of Community Boards on the staff of Queens Borough President Claire Shulman.

Katz is currently a Democratic candidate for New York City Comptroller, an election which will take place in 2009.

[edit] External links

• Official NYC Council Website about Melinda Katz

Preceded by Alan Hevesi	New York State Assembly, 28th District 1994–1998	Succeeded by Michael Cohen
Preceded by Karen Koslowitz	New York City Council, 29th District 2002–present	Incumbent