Cathy is at home in Harrisburg having lived and worked in the region for fifteen years. Cathy attended Dickinson College where she earned her bachelor degree in Environmental Science. She also obtained a master’s degree in Geography from West Chester University. While in the Harrisburg region, Cathy worked as an environmental consultant in the engineering industry. Her area of expertise included environmental compliance and natural resource preservation for property transactions and telecommunications facilities. Cathy is now the Codes, Planning & Zoning Administrative Coordinator and Assistant Zoning Officer for Newtown Township, Delaware County where she has been awarded for her historic preservation efforts by the Heritage Commission of Delaware County and the Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township, Delaware County.  

Catherine (Cathy) Spahr a Democrat nominee for the 160th PA Legislative District. She is a mother, environmental activist, and people’s champion. Cathy’s political priorities include environmental protection and development of clean energy, women’s rights including equal pay and reproductive health, fair school funding, and developing an effective response to the drug crisis in Pennsylvania.  

Her political efforts took root immediately after the most recent U.S. Presidential election. Horrified by the current Administration’s efforts to undermine and reverse protective environmental legislation, Cathy spearheaded the grassroots organization “Send the Lorax to Washington.” Her brainchild was to collect enough books of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to distribute to each member of Congress as a reminder of the importance to protect and preserve the Earth’s natural resources. With nothing but determination and a computer, Cathy launched her project in February, 2017. The events that unfolded over the next few weeks and months were unprecedented. Send the Lorax to Washington gathered enough support to hand-deliver the first 140 books to Congress by the summer. Based on its success, a second campaign effort was launched to present members of Pennsylvania’s Congressional members in Harrisburg with copies of The Lorax which garnered the attention and recognition from Governor Tom Wolf.  

 

In addition to protecting our natural resources, Cathy is committed to bringing about legislation to improve women’s rights, including equal pay, reproductive health, and extended maternity leave, and for the development and funding of programs that address the illegal drug epidemic that has gripped the State of Pennsylvania. She has been a friend of Bill’s for 22 years and has sponsored many women in the program over the years. Cathy grew up in Delaware county and currently resides in Upper Chichester Township with her twin boys, Charlie and Julien who are the inspiration for her efforts, along with her partner, Lee and their dog, Blue.