About cathy
Cathy Spahr
Cathy is a southeastern PA native, having grown up in Newtown Square, Delaware County. Cathy currently resides in Upper Chichester Township with her twin boys, Charlie and Julien who are the inspiration for her efforts, along with her partner, Lee and their dog, Blue.
Cathy is also at home in Harrisburg, having lived and worked in the region for fifteen years. Cathy attended Dickinson College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. While in the Harrisburg region, Cathy worked as an environmental consultant in the engineering industry. Her area of expertise included environmental compliance and natural resource preservation for property transactions and telecommunications facilities.
Cathy returned to Delaware County in 2009 to be with family and attend graduate school. In 2013, Cathy graduated from West Chester University with a masters degree in Geography and Planning. Cathy is now the Codes, Planning & Zoning Administrative Coordinator for Newtown Township, Delaware County where she has been awarded for her historic preservation efforts by the Heritage Commission of Delaware County and the Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township, Delaware County.
“Cathy’s tireless effort and commitment to her neighbors is exactly what we need in Harrisburg.”
Delivering copies of The Lorax to Congress
While Cathy was always an active voter, her political efforts took root immediately after the most recent U.S. Presidential election. Horrified by the current Administration’s efforts to undermine and reverse protective environmental legislation, Cathy spearheaded the grassroots organization “Send the Lorax to Washington.” Her brainchild was to collect enough books of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to distribute to each member of Congress as a reminder of the importance to protect and preserve the Earth’s natural resources. With nothing but determination and a computer, Cathy launched her project in February, 2017. The events that unfolded over the next few weeks and months were unprecedented. Send the Lorax to Washington gathered enough support to hand-deliver the over 400 books to Congress by the close of 2018. Based on its success, a second campaign effort was launched to present members of Pennsylvania’s state legislative members in Harrisburg with copies of The Lorax which garnered the attention and recognition from Governor Tom Wolf.
Cathy and her dog, Blue, after completing the Schuylkill River Loop Race, 2018
In addition to protecting our natural resources, Cathy is committed to bringing about legislation to improve women’s rights, including equal pay, reproductive health, and extended maternity leave, and for the development and funding of programs that address the illegal drug epidemic that has gripped the State of Pennsylvania. As someone with over 24 years of sobriety, Cathy has sponsored many women in recovery over the years.
“Cathy has great leadership qualities. She is determined and hard working and won’t ask anyone to do anything she won’t do herself!”