Scotia Village Trustee Cathy Gatta has been tapped by county Democrats to fill a vacancy on the Schenectady County Legislature created by the resignation of Chairwoman Susan Savage.
Gatta, 44, is director of marketing and communications for the Mazzone Management Group. She was elected in November to a four-year term on the Village Board, garnering the most votes among the field. It was her first bid for public office.
The Schenectady County Democratic Committee selected Gatta in a caucus Sunday night. Her name will be forwarded to the county Legislature. The Democrat-controlled Legislature will most likely make the appointment in May.
Gatta will have to run in November for the seat in District 3, which consists of Glenville and Niskayuna. Should she win, she would serve the remainder of Savage’s term, which is two years. The seat would then be open in November 2013 for a full four-year term.
Gatta said she was “approached by several people” to fill the legislative vacancy. “I am excited to be asked to serve,” she said. She said she is still developing her legislative priorities, but is interested in proposing economic development initiatives that help revitalize Scotia and Glenville.
Gatta said she is exploring the possibility of remaining a Scotia trustee and serving on the county Legislature, “at least until November.”
Gatta has three children and is a lifelong resident of Glenville. She is a member of the Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency and served on several village boards and Scotia-Glenville school district committees.
Brian Quail, chairman of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, said Gatta “would make an outstanding county legislator and a valuable addition to the Democrat majority if she is selected by the county Legislature.”
Savage resigned Sunday to join Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive team as the assistant deputy commissioner for the Office of Real Property Services. She served a dozen years in the Legislature, the last seven as chairwoman. A Democrat, she represented District 3.
Democrats control the 15-member Legislature with 12 seats. Conservative Holly Vellano caucuses with the Democrats. There are two Republicans on the board.
In November, nine seats on the board will be open: seven belonging to Democrats and two to Republicans.
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Categories: Schenectady County
