Kathleen Fogarty

Kathleen A. Fogarty
Member of the
Rhode Island House of Representatives
from the 35th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded bySpencer Dickinson
President of the
South Kingstown Town Council
In office
November 25, 2008 – November 25, 2010
Preceded byMary S. Eddy
Succeeded byElla M. Whaley
Member of the
South Kingstown Town Council
In office
November 25, 2002 – November 25, 2012
Personal details
Born (1965-07-29) July 29, 1965 (age 59)
Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBrendan J. Fogarty
Children2
EducationProvidence College (BS)

Kathleen A. Fogarty (born July 29, 1965) is an American politician currently serving as a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 35th House District since 2015.[1]

Personal life

Fogarty was born in Warwick, Rhode Island on July 29, 1965. She was raised in Smithfield, Rhode Island graduated from Smithfield High School in 1983. Fogarty graduated from Providence College in 1987, with a Bachelor's degree in health service administration.[1][2]

Fogarty is married to Brendan J. Fogarty. They have two children, Brendan and Lauren.[1][3]

Political career

Fogarty first won election to the South Kingstown Town Council in 2002. Fogarty was reelected four times, before choosing not to run again in 2012. Fogarty served as the Council's vice president from 2004 to 2008 and as the Council's president from 2008 to 2010.

Fogarty was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 2014, after defeating incumbent Representative Spencer Dickinson in the Democratic primaries.

Fogarty currently sits on the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee[4] and the House Health and Human Services Committee,[5] as well as serving as the First Vice-Chair of the House Municipal Government and Housing Committee[6] and the Chair of the House Special Legislation Committee.[7]

Fogarty has built a distinguished political career marked by a strong commitment to public health, environmental protection, education, and safety. She has successfully sponsored laws mandating insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings,[8] improving dam safety with climate change considerations,[9] and expanding mental health access through a two-tiered licensing system.[10][11] A dedicated proponent for senior citizens, Fogarty worked to streamline SNAP benefits,[12] while her advocacy for the University of Rhode Island has led to significant investments in oceanographic education and research.[13] Additionally, she has championed laws that enhance public safety, such as banning hand-held mobile devices while driving,[14] and supported the well-being of children by securing mandatory recess time in elementary schools.[15]

Elections

  • 2002 Fogarty was elected to the South Kingstown Town Council.[1]
  • 2004 Fogarty placed second in the November 2, 2004 General election for the South Kingstown Town Council, receiving 6,115 votes (12.14%).[16]
  • 2006 Fogarty placed third in the November 7, 2006 General election for the South Kingstown Town Council, receiving 6,432 votes (12.64%).[17]
  • 2008 Fogarty placed first in the November 4, 2008 General election for the South Kingstown Town Council, receiving 7,515 votes (13.5%).[18]
  • 2014 Fogarty challenged District 35 incumbent Democratic representative Spencer E. Dickinson in the September 9, 2010 Democratic primary, winning with 672 votes (51.3%)[19] and won the November 4, 2014 General election with 2,113 votes (57.6%), defeating Republican nominee Lacey McGreevy.[20]
  • 2016 Fogarty again defeated Spencer Dickinson in the September 13, 2016 Democratic Primary, winning with 584 votes (54.8%)[21] and won the November 6, 2018 General election with 2,825 votes (57.7%), defeating independent Bruce K. Waidler.[22]
  • 2018 Fogarty was unopposed in the September 12, 2018 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,078 votes[23] and won the November 6, 2018 General election with 3,003 votes (69.6%), defeating independent John Brandon Monk.[24]
  • 2020 Fogarty defeated Spencer Dickinson a third time in the September 8, 2020 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,182 votes (75.7%)[25] and won the November 3, 2020 General election unopposed with 4,386 votes (95.6%).[26]
  • 2022 Fogarty was unopposed in the September 13, 2022 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,136 votes[27] and won the November 8, 2022 General election with 2,879 votes (64.3%), defeating republican William Paniccia.[28]
  • 2024 Fogarty was unopposed in the September 10, 2024 Democratic Primary, winning with 790 votes[29] and won the November 5, 2024 General election with 2,975 votes (60.2%), defeating republican Jennifer Nerbonne.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". www.rilegislature.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  2. ^ "Rhode Island State Rep. Kathleen Fogarty - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  3. ^ "Kathleen Fogarty". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  4. ^ "House Environment and Natural Resources Committee". Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "House Health and Human Services Committee". Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "House Municipal Government and Housing Committee". Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "House Special Legislation Committee". Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "House Press Release: New state law mandates coverage of dense breast tissue screenings". Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "House Press Release: Governor signs legislation to address safety of dams throughout state". Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "House Press Release: Governor signs DiMario, Fogarty legislation allowing two-tiered licensing for mental health counselors". Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  11. ^ "House Press Release:Assembly approves bill to join interstate counselor compact". Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "House Press Release: General Assembly OKs legislation that would streamline application process for senior SNAP beneficiaries". Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  13. ^ "House Press Release: Rep. McEntee and Rep. Fogarty testified in favor of $50 million URI Narragansett Bay Campus budget bond; stressed that $90 million is needed though". Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "House Press Release: Bill that bans hand-held cell phone use by drivers is signed into law". Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  15. ^ "House Press Release:Legislation requiring schools to have at least 20 minutes of free play recess signed into law". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  16. ^ "2004 General Election, Town Council, Town of South Kingstown". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "2006 General Election, Town Council, Town of South Kingstown". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "2008 General Election, Town Council, Town of South Kingstown". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "2014 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "2014 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "2016 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "2016 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  23. ^ "2018 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  24. ^ "2018 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "2020 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  26. ^ "2020 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "2022 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  28. ^ "2022 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  29. ^ "2024 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "2024 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 35". Retrieved November 22, 2024.