22 Facts About Melinda Katz

Melinda R Katz was born on August 29,1965 and is an American attorney and politician from New York City, serving as District Attorney of Queens since January 1,2020.

Melinda Katz had previously run for City Comptroller in 2009.

In June 2019, Melinda Katz won the Democratic nomination for Queens County's District Attorney, and won the general election in November 2019.

Melinda Katz comes from a Jewish family with a long history of civic involvement.

Melinda Katz served as a Member of the New York State Assembly from 1994 to 1999, representing Queens' 28th District, which included Forest Hills, Rego Park, and parts of Middle Village and Glendale.

Melinda Katz wrote the law requiring HMOs to provide women direct access to gynecological care without forcing them to first see a primary care physician.

Melinda Katz was the Chair of the subcommittee on Urban Health.

In 1998, Melinda Katz ran for Congress from New York's 9th congressional district, which was the seat held by Chuck Schumer, who was running for the US Senate.

Melinda Katz lost the primary by 285 votes to Anthony Weiner, who went on to win the subsequent general election.

Melinda Katz then became Director of Community Boards for the Office of the Queens Borough President from 1999 to 2002, before winning a seat on the New York City Council, where she served from 2002 to 2009, representing the 29th district, which included Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Maspeth, South Elmhurst and Richmond Hill.

Melinda Katz served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Land Use, which was responsible for approving rezoning measures for wide-ranging pockets of the city, including Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Jamaica.

Term-limited out of the Council in 2009, Melinda Katz worked at the Greenberg Traurig law firm, where she specialized in government affairs and land use.

In 2009, Melinda Katz ran for New York City Comptroller in a four-person Democratic primary.

Melinda Katz finished third with 20 percent of the vote, behind winner John Liu and second-place David Yassky.

In 2012, Melinda Katz announced her plans to run for Queens Borough President in 2013.

Melinda Katz was endorsed by Congresswoman Grace Meng, Councilman Leroy Comrie and the 1199 Hospital Workers Union.

Melinda Katz won the Democratic nomination, defeating former New York City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.

In December 2018, Melinda Katz announced her candidacy for Queens District Attorney.

On July 3,2019, election officials said Melinda Katz pulled ahead in the final count and led Caban by a mere 20 votes, triggering a recount.

On July 29,2019, the Board of Elections certified the results of the weeks-long recount, which resulted in Melinda Katz leading Caban by 60 votes and declaring victory.

Melinda Katz was in a relationship with Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and later the 2021 Republican nominee for New York City mayor, and separated from him in 2014; they have two children together, conceived in vitro over the previous five years.

Melinda Katz is named in a court case involving Sliwa, accused by his ex-wife, Mary, of diverting money to Katz while still married to Mary, as part of a plan to build a "nest egg" with Katz prior to moving in with her.