Cathy Osten

Catherine Ann Osten is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Connecticut State Senate representing District 19 since January 9, 2013. Osten is a three term First Selectman from Sprague, Connecticut.

Cathy Osten
Member of the Connecticut State Senate
from the 19th[1] district
Assumed office
January 9, 2013
Preceded byEdith Prague
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Sprague, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma materMohegan Community College
Websitewww.senatedems.ct.gov/osten
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1975-1979
RankSergeant

Graduating from the Norwich Free Academy in 1973, Osten enlisted in the United States Army. After four years of active duty, Osten returned to the United States, taking up residence in Norwich and attending Mohegan Community College. In 1990 Osten joined the Connecticut Department of Corrections serving for 21 years and becoming an officer.[2]

Osten was elected as the President of the Corrections Supervisors' Council of CSEA/SEIU 2001. As a State Senator she supports a $15 living wage for all Connecticut workers.[3]

Binding arbitration

Osten, co-chairwoman of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, said the binding arbitration system is fair — and municipalities should accept some portion of paying for local teachers’ pensions.[4]

Megan's Law

Osten was a leading advocate for Megan's Law, legislation that created a registry for convicted child molesters and gave parents tools to keep their children safe.[5]

Service Employee International Union (SEIU)

As an SEIU leader and Connecticut corrections employee, Osten successful led an effort to unionize Lieutenant management. She then joined and led the effort to sue Connecticut in a class action sexual harassment and hostile work place lawsuit.[6][7]

As the President of SEIU 2001 she successfully led efforts for Connecticut health care Sustinet, paid sick leave and aligning prevailing union wage[8] and minimum wage to annual CPI increases. She was the union leader for multiple bargaining negotiations with legislative leadership and the Governor. These negotiations produced no layoffs and more spending to support essential services.[9]

Osten joined union leaders and proposed the state of Connecticut, which underfunds their teacher and employee pensions at 42 and 55%, start and administer a retirement fund for low income workers.[10] Local Wealth Management firms questioned the idea, "Why create a new product when knowledge is what is needed? The products already exist.”

Defined benefit plans

Osten supports a defined benefit retirement system for state employees.[11]

Medical marijuana

Osten said she was dismayed that Norwich lost a chance to be host of an emerging high-tech industry.[12] During a 2010 debate Selectman Osten stated, "Marijuana would be one of her top priorities."[13]

Election spending

Osten voted for unlimited spending for state elections HB 6580.[14] This legislation enabled Connecticut Democrats and Republicans to raise unlimited funds through their PACs.[15]

Elections

The 2010 47th State Representative District race Coutu beat Osten 57 to 43%.[16]

The Day newspaper stated, "He faces Sprague First Selectwoman Catherine Ann Osten, a retired corrections lieutenant who served as a union official and organizer. Ms. Osten seeks tax reform and says tax increases must be part of the budget solution..."[17]

2012

Osten beat Representative Tom Reynolds to win the primary for State Senate.[18] Senator Edith Prague, SEIU, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) endorsed Osten.

The 2012 Senate race included multiple debates.[19] In these debates there was much discussion on job creation, union intervention and the role of government.

In November 2012 Osten won the 19th Senatorial district by 51 to 49%.

2013

In November 2013 Osten earned her third term as Sprague's First Selectman over her previous Democratic Selectman Buddy Meadows. During the campaign there was nepotism claims as Osten laid off her opponents son while keeping her son-in-law's part time position in same department. She also cut hours for the Senior Center Director, Buddy Meadows, after he announced his candidacy for Osten's town job.[20][21] In 2017, Osten was assaulted by her son-in-law who, “had pushed an elderly female to the ground, spit on her and kicked her in the back.”[22]

2015

In November 2015 Osten earned her fourth term as Sprague's First Selectman over Dennison. Osten received a 6% increase in pay and has received three government compensations since 2012. The current salary for the full-time job of first selectman is a modest $43,901, with an additional travel stipend. She also receives a state pension of $54,174 for her years of service as a Connecticut corrections officer and $28,000, plus expenses, for her part-time job as state senator.[23]

2019

On June 6, 2018, voters in a townwide referendum rejected by a 280-52 margin a combined $9.4 million education and general government budget that would have required a three-mill tax increase. Osten is focused on stabilizing Sprague's finances after addressing $1 million deficit. “It’s left us with a significant problem,” First Selectman Cathy Osten said. “We have a negative fund balance, and we haven’t paid off all the bills.” The town's fund balance — its savings account — ended the fiscal year on June 30, 2018, a little more than $1 million in the red. The town [24]

References
  1. "State Senator Cathy Osten". Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut Senate. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  2. Cathy Osten For State Senate
  3. Norwich Bulletin, Minimum Wage Should be $15
  4. "Debate not over on sharing teacher pension costs with towns". 17 June 2019.
  5. Cathy Osten Leading Advocate for Megans Law
  6. CaseLaw STATE of Connecticut v. CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, SEIU Local 2001
  7. Hartford Courant, Lieutenants Speak
  8. CT News Junkie, Prevailing Wage Unions vs. Towns, Cathy Osten Chair of Labor Committee
  9. State Employee Unions Ratify Agreements
  10. The Day, Senator Osten Proposes Government Administered Retirement Fund
  11. CT News Junkie, Osten Defends Defined Benefit Plans
  12. Norwich Bulletin, Marijuana in Norwich Fails
  13. Norwich Bulletin, Chamber Debate stays Sedate
  14. Osten Votes for Unlimited Spending for State Elections
  15. CT Mirror, Connecticut Democrats Raise 1.4 million - 19-1 ratio against Republicans
  16. Norwich Bulletin, Coutu beats Osten
  17. The Day, Endorses Coutu
  18. East of River, Osten beats Reynolds
  19. Norwich Bulletin, Coutu Osten Debate
  20. "Charges of political firings and nepotism in Sprague".
  21. "Day columnist describes Osten's hardball politics".
  22. "Son-in-law of Sen. Osten facing assault charges".
  23. "Should Selectman/Senator Osten get a 6 percent raise?".
  24. "Sprague finances in $1M hole".
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