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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[2]
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | California State Assembly District 37 |
Arline Mathews | 39,838 | 34.1% | Cathie Wright | 66,937 | 57.3% | |||
| 1982 | California State Assembly District 37 |
C.W. "Dick" Stine | 38,574 | 38.7% | Cathie Wright | 55,849 | 56% | |||
| 1984 | California State Assembly District 37 |
none | Cathie Wright | 105,919 | 100% | |||||
| 1986 | California State Assembly District 37 |
William Hesse | 25,736 | 23.9% | Cathie Wright | 80,477 | 74.6% | |||
| 1988 | California State Assembly District 37 |
Jeffrey Marcus | 37,617 | 24.9% | Cathie Wright | 110,111 | 72.8% | |||
| 1990 | California State Assembly District 37 |
Dennis A. Petrie | 44,773 | 38.9% | Hunt Braly 41% Cathie Wright 59% |
62,881 | 54.7% | |||
| 1992 | California State Senate District 19 |
Hank Starr | 108,052 | 38.8% | Roger Campbell 29% Marion La Follete 33% Cathie Wright 38% |
148,116 | 53.2% | |||
| 1994 | California Lieutenant Governor | Gray Davis | 4,441,429 | 52.4% | Stan Statham 37% Cathie Wright 63% |
3,412,777 | 40.3% | |||
| 1996 | California State Senate District 19 |
John Birke | 97,133 | 37.8% | Cathie Wright | 160,130 | 62.2% |
References
- ^ Vassar, Alex; Shane Meyers (2007). "Cathi M. Wright, Republican". JoinCalifornia.com. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
- ^ a b "Complete Primary Results," by A.G. Block, California Journal, July 1992, p.347.
- ^ "Complete Election Results," by A.G. Block, California Journal, December 1994, p.14.