Susan Catania | |
|---|---|
 Catania in 1976 | |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 22nd district | |
| In office 1973–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Genoa Washington (Republican representative of multi-member district) |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Susan Kmetty December 10, 1941 Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Died | November 27, 2023 (aged 81) Eagle River, Wisconsin, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Anthony E. Catania (died 2022) |
| Children | 7 |
| Education | |
Susan Catania (née Kmetty; December 10, 1941 – November 27, 2023) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983. She was involved in women's rights issues, and she led the unsuccessful effort to get the federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified by the Illinois General Assembly. Catania also served as chairperson of the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women. A representative from Chicago, she was described as a liberal, feminist, and maverick member of the Republican legislative caucus.
Catania represented a heavily African American and Democratic district, but a Republican could still represent the district under the state's cumulative voting system. In the House, Catania introduced gay rights bills and the Freedom of Information Act, but both efforts were unsuccessful. During her tenure, she sponsored over 50 bills that became law, including the Crime Victim Compensation Act and a bill that designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a state holiday, both of which were enacted in 1973. Cumulative voting was abolished by the Cutback Amendment in 1981, and Catania lost any chance to retain her seat in the House going forward. During the 1982 elections, she ran for lieutenant governor, but lost the Republican primary, which was seen as a referendum on ratification of the ERA.