Kathy Castor is a newly elected member of Congress. She represents the 11th congressional district of Florida, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties. 
In a rare move for a freshman, Speaker Pelosi asked her to serve on the powerful Rules Committee, which has jurisdiction over the rules and order of business of the House and authority to report at any time on such matters. She has also been appointed to the powerful House Armed Services Committee. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also chosen Castor for a leadership position in the steering and policy committee, which assigns fellow party members to other House committees, and advises party leaders on policy. These powerful positions will allow Congresswoman Castor to work for the people of District 11 to solve the issues that are most important to them, including health care, education, ethics and transportation.
Castor was previously a Hillsborough County Commissioner, representing District 1, which covered much of Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Before joining the county commission she worked as an attorney to enforce growth management laws.
Over the years, Castor has built a strong record on health care - working to stop seniors and other patients in Hillsborough County’s health care plan from being forced into HMO’s. She has been an independent voice who has been willing to take on other powerful interests, in addition to the HMO’s. She has stood up to the big developers to protect wetlands and to make developers pay their share of the cost of new roads and schools. She has stood up to the utility companies to protect neighborhoods and has worked to pass stricter laws regulating lobbyists and special interest groups.
Kathy and her husband have two daughters, and she is the daughter of former Hillsborough County Judge Don Castor and former United States Senate candidate, USF President and Education Commissioner Betty Castor.
