Mary Lou Rath (née Schmitt) (born June 17, 1934) is an American politician who served as a member of New York State Senate from 1993 to 2008. A Republican, she represented the state's 61st district, which consisted of parts of Erie County and all of Genesee County.
Rath was born in Kenmore, New York to Aloysius Casper "Lloyd" Schmitt and Margaret M. Cassidy. Her parents divorced and Rath's mother remarried to George Louis Whetzle. She attended the University at Buffalo before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the Buffalo State Teacher's College (now Buffalo State College).[1]
Career
She was elected to the Senate in 1993 after serving as a member of the Erie County Legislature from 1978 to 1993.[2] During her final four years in the County Legislature, she served as the Minority Leader of the Legislature.
In January 2007, she was appointed to the post of deputy majority leader for state/federal relations, making her the only woman in the Senate Republican leadership. She announced her retirement in 2008 and was succeeded by Erie County Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer.[3] Ranzenhofer had also succeeded Senator Rath as Minority Leader of the Erie County Legislature when Senator Rath stepped down to become a state senator.
During her service in the Senate, Rath served at different times as chairwoman of the Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committee, chairwoman of the Children and Families Committee and as chairwoman of the Local Government Committee.
Rath married her late husband, Edward Rath, Jr. (1930-2003), on January 10, 1959 in Buffalo, New York. Edward Rath, Jr. was a justice of the New York State Supreme Court and her father-in-law, Edward A. Rath, was the first county executive of Erie County. Her son, Edward Rath III, won his election for the Erie County Legislature for her former seat and in 2020 was elected in her seat for New York State Senate.[5][6] She is a resident of the Village of Williamsville, and has two other children, Allison and Melinda.
^Times, The New York (2008-01-29). "Republican Senator to Retire". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
^"Pataki Picks an Upstate Judge As His Election Running Mate". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
^Staff. "Mary Lou Rath served well Senator's retirement marks end of career more about achievements than limelight". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
^"Retired Judge Edward Rath Dies of Cancer". news.wbfo.org. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
mary, rath, née, schmitt, born, june, 1934, american, politician, served, member, york, state, senate, from, 1993, 2008, republican, represented, state, 61st, district, which, consisted, parts, erie, county, genesee, county, member, york, state, senate, from, . Mary Lou Rath nee Schmitt born June 17 1934 is an American politician who served as a member of New York State Senate from 1993 to 2008 A Republican she represented the state s 61st district which consisted of parts of Erie County and all of Genesee County Mary Lou RathMember of the New York State Senate from the 61st districtIn office January 8 2003 December 31 2008Preceded byGeorge MaziarzSucceeded byMichael RanzenhoferMember of the New York State Senate from the 60th districtIn office January 6 1993 December 31 2002Preceded byJohn B Sheffer IISucceeded byByron BrownPersonal detailsBornMary Lou Schmitt 1934 06 17 June 17 1934 age 88 Political partyRepublicanSpouseEdward Rath Jr 1959 2003 his death Children3 including Edward Rath IIIResidence s Williamsville New York U S EducationBuffalo State Teacher s College BS Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life and education EditRath was born in Kenmore New York to Aloysius Casper Lloyd Schmitt and Margaret M Cassidy Her parents divorced and Rath s mother remarried to George Louis Whetzle She attended the University at Buffalo before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the Buffalo State Teacher s College now Buffalo State College 1 Career EditShe was elected to the Senate in 1993 after serving as a member of the Erie County Legislature from 1978 to 1993 2 During her final four years in the County Legislature she served as the Minority Leader of the Legislature In January 2007 she was appointed to the post of deputy majority leader for state federal relations making her the only woman in the Senate Republican leadership She announced her retirement in 2008 and was succeeded by Erie County Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer 3 Ranzenhofer had also succeeded Senator Rath as Minority Leader of the Erie County Legislature when Senator Rath stepped down to become a state senator During her service in the Senate Rath served at different times as chairwoman of the Tourism Recreation and Sports Development Committee chairwoman of the Children and Families Committee and as chairwoman of the Local Government Committee In 1998 she was reportedly considered by Governor George Pataki as his running mate for lieutenant governor Pataki choose Judge Mary Donohue instead 4 Personal life EditRath married her late husband Edward Rath Jr 1930 2003 on January 10 1959 in Buffalo New York Edward Rath Jr was a justice of the New York State Supreme Court and her father in law Edward A Rath was the first county executive of Erie County Her son Edward Rath III won his election for the Erie County Legislature for her former seat and in 2020 was elected in her seat for New York State Senate 5 6 She is a resident of the Village of Williamsville and has two other children Allison and Melinda References Edit Mary Lou Rath s Biography Vote Smart Retrieved 2021 05 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Pye Daniel POLITICS Mary Lou Rath announces retirement Niagara Gazette Retrieved 2021 05 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Times The New York 2008 01 29 Republican Senator to Retire The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 05 23 Pataki Picks an Upstate Judge As His Election Running Mate archive nytimes com Retrieved 2021 05 23 Staff Mary Lou Rath served well Senator s retirement marks end of career more about achievements than limelight The Buffalo News Retrieved 2021 05 23 Retired Judge Edward Rath Dies of Cancer news wbfo org Retrieved 2021 05 23 Political officesPreceded byThomas M Reynolds Minority Leader of the Erie County Legislature1989 1993 Succeeded byMichael RanzenhoferNew York State SenatePreceded byJohn B Sheffer II New York State Senate 60th District1993 2002 Succeeded byByron BrownPreceded byGeorge Maziarz New York State Senate 61st District2003 2008 Succeeded byMichael Ranzenhofer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Lou Rath amp oldid 1128535328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
