{{Short description|American politician (born 1957)}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2012}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cathy Woolard | office = President of the [[Atlanta City Council]] | image = | predecessor = [[Robb Pitts]] | successor = [[Lisa Borders]] | office2 = Member of the [[Atlanta City Council]]<br>[[Atlanta's 6th City Council district|District 6]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|5|10}} | birth_place = | alma_mater = [[University of Georgia]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) | term_start = January 7, 2002 | term_end = August 16, 2004 | term_start2 = January 5, 1998 | term_end2 = January 7, 2002 | predecessor2 = Mary Davis | successor2 = Anne Fauver }}
'''Cathy Woolard''' (born May 10, 1957) is an American [[politician]] who served as a member of the [[Atlanta City Council]] for [[Atlanta's 6th City Council district|District 6]] from January 1998 to January 2002, and as president of the council from 2002 to 2004. When she began her term in 1997, she was the first openly-gay elected official in Georgia history, and she was the first woman to be President of the council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thegavoice.com/lesbian-politico-woolard-im-going-to-run-hard-for-atlanta-mayor/|title=LGBT activist Woolard: 'I'm going to run hard' for Atlanta mayor - Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta|date=2015-03-12|website=Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref>
== Education == In 1979, Woolard graduated [[Phi Beta Kappa]] from the [[University of Georgia]], where she majored in psychology and minored in German. In 2003, Woolard completed Harvard University's [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.
== Career == Following college, Woolard served as a [[Peace Corps]] volunteer in [[Micronesia]] and then as a National Field Director for the [[Human Rights Campaign]].<ref name=":0" />
=== Atlanta City Council === In 1997, Woolard ran and was elected to Atlanta's City Council by the 6th district, upsetting 20-year incumbent Mary Davis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.projectq.us/atlanta/lgbt_activist_tells_friends_shes_running_for_atlanta_mayor?gid=16638|title=LGBT activist tells friends she's running for Atlanta mayor|website=Project Q|date=12 March 2015|access-date=2016-06-07|archive-date=June 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613225207/http://www.projectq.us/atlanta/lgbt_activist_tells_friends_shes_running_for_atlanta_mayor?gid=16638|url-status=dead}}</ref> Woolard was sworn in on January 5, 1998.<ref name="jan-98-atl">{{cite web |title=ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 5-6, 1998 |url=https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=2505&Inline=True |publisher=Atlanta City Council |access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> While a council member, Woolard pushed for more pedestrian-friendly zoning, and she won increased funding for sidewalks. She also chaired the city's Transportation Committee, and oversaw an expansion of the [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport]], which had just become the busiest airport in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=41321|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Cathy Woolard|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref> In 2000, Woolard led her colleagues on the council to pass a local ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual-orientation, the first such ordinance in Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freedomforallamericans.org/category/ga/|title=Georgia {{!}} Freedom for All Americans|website=www.freedomforallamericans.org|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
In 2001, Woolard won a city-wide election for City Council President. She was sworn in on January 7, 2002.<ref name="jan-02">{{cite web |title=ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL ACTION/MINUTES JANUARY 07, 2002 |url=https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=2093&Inline=True |access-date=31 January 2026 |date=January 7, 2002}}</ref> Working closely with [[Shirley Franklin|Mayor Shirley Franklin]] and urbanist Ryan Gravel, Woolard championed the Atlanta [[BeltLine]], a project to transform abandoned rail-corridors circling downtown into mixed-use recreational trails and transit.<ref name="CL">{{Cite web|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-184856-cover-story-4th-congressional-district-democratic|title=4th Congressional District, Democratic primary|access-date=2016-08-04|archive-date=2016-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917141839/http://www.clatl.com/news/article/13015072/4th-congressional-district-democratic-primary|url-status=live}}</ref> The project has since garnered over $1 billion in private development for the surrounding area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://beltline.org/progress/progress/economic-development-progress/|title=Economic Development Progress // Atlanta BeltLine|website=beltline.org|access-date=2016-08-04|archive-date=2016-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829155818/http://beltline.org/progress/progress/economic-development-progress/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also made sustainability a priority, creating the city's first-ever energy policy which saved taxpayers more than $470,000, and she founded the "Dirty Dozen," a pilot program to fix the worst code violations in the city.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://beltline.org/2011/12/02/history-of-atlanta-beltline-project-in-public-roads-magazine/|title=History of Atlanta BeltLine Project in Public Roads Magazine // Atlanta BeltLine|website=beltline.org|date=2 December 2011 |access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref>
=== Run for Congress and non-profit activity === In 2004, after serving two years of her term as city council president, Woolard entered the race to represent [[Georgia's 4th congressional district|Georgia 4th district]] in [[United States House of Representatives]], a seat that had been vacated by [[Denise Majette]] who had decided to run for the [[United States Senate]] seat. Woolard was defeated in the primary by the returning [[Cynthia McKinney]], who then won in the general election.<ref name="CL" />
In 2008, Woolard was appointed as Executive Vice President of Global Advocacy and External Relations at [[CARE (relief agency)|CARE]],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.care.org/newsroom/articles/2008/01/20080130_woolard.asp|title = Former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard to Join CARE|publisher = CARE|date = January 30, 2008}}</ref> an Atlanta-based non-profit. She served in that capacity until 2010. She then worked as a professional advocate on behalf of [[Planned Parenthood]] and [[Georgia Equality]], with whom she argued against a controversial "Religious Freedom" bill in Georgia that was eventually vetoed by [[Nathan Deal|Governor Nathan Deal]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://thegavoice.com/catching-atlantas-cathy-woolard-lgbt-activism-now-future-political-run/|title=Catching up ... with Atlanta's Cathy Woolard: On LGBT activism then and now, and a future political run? - Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta|date=2014-05-05|website=Georgia Voice - Gay & LGBT Atlanta|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/johnwright/georgia_senate_panel_secretly_fast_tracks_dangerous_anti_gay_first_amendment_defense_act|title=Cowardly Georgia Lawmakers Stage Surprise Hearing To Limit Input On Horrific Anti-Gay Bill|website=The New Civil Rights Movement|date=2 February 2016|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref> Woolard also served as the interim director for AID Atlanta, an organization providing care for those suffering from HIV and AIDS.<ref name=":1" />
After the death of incumbent Congressman [[John Lewis]], Woolard was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Lewis on the November general election ballot.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The process of replacing Rep. John Lewis in the US House|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/replacing-lewis/85-a65fdde1-7d3f-4b34-a3d0-2d7bdc1cba31|access-date=2020-07-19|website=11Alive.com|date=18 July 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>
===2017 mayoral race===
Woolard was a candidate in the [[2017 Atlanta mayoral election]], running on a platform of affordable housing and effective transportation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cathy Woolard for Mayor|url=http://cathywoolard.com/|access-date=2016-06-06|website=Cathy Woolard for Mayor|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cathy Woolard, Margaret Kaiser kick off 2017 mayoral race|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-218875-cathy-woolard-margaret-kaiser-kick-off-2017-mayoral|access-date=2016-06-06|website=Creative Loafing Atlanta}}</ref> Woolard placed third in the nonpartisan [[blanket primary]]. After this, she endorsed [[Mary Norwood]] in the runoff.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thegavoice.com/cathy-woolard-endorses-mary-norwood-atlanta-mayor/|title=Cathy Woolard endorses Mary Norwood for Atlanta mayor|work=thegavoice.com|date=November 29, 2017}}</ref>
===Subsequent activities=== After the Democratic [[Ticket (election)|ticket]] of [[Joe Biden]] and [[Kamala Harris]] [[2020 United States presidential election in Georgia|won the state of Georgia]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election]], Woolard served as a Georgia member of the [[2020 United States Electoral College]], casting her votes for Biden as president and Harris as vice president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/meet-georgias-16-democratic-electors/ACUNJ35S2BA5DONVZN5NNQKVMA/|title=Meet Georgia's 16 Democratic electors|first1=Greg|last1=Bluestein|first2=The Atlanta|last2=Journal-Constitution|website=ajc}}</ref>
In 2021, over the objections of [[Georgia Secretary of State]] [[Brad Raffensperger]], the Fulton County Board of Commissioners appointed Woolard as chair of the Fulton County Board of Elections and Registration, succeeding [[Alex Wan]] to the role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Commissioners Appoints Cathy Woolard to Serve as Chair of Fulton Board of Registration & Elections |url=https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/news/2021/09/16/board-of-commissioners-appoints-cathy-woolard |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=www.fultoncountyga.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brasch |first=Ben |title=Fulton elections chair resigns, qualifies for Atlanta council seat |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/fulton-elections-chair-resigns-plans-to-qualify-for-atlanta-council-seat/GTV57PSIXZAWTB7EJRODOM5O4A/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}</ref> Woolard stepped down from the position in 2023, but returned to the role in April 2024 on an interim basis after her successor, Patrise Perkins-Hooker, was appointed as City Attorney for the City of Atlanta.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reardon |first=Doug |date=2024-04-17 |title=Former Fulton elections board chair returns to helm just weeks ahead of statewide primary |url=https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2024/04/17/former-fulton-elections-board-chair-returns-helm-just-weeks-ahead-statewide-primary/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=www.atlantanewsfirst.com |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * http://cathywoolard.com/ {{Atlanta City Council Presidents}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Woolard, Cathy}} [[Category:Atlanta City Council members]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American lesbian politicians]] [[Category:LGBTQ people from Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:American LGBTQ city council members]] [[Category:Women city councillors in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:University of Georgia alumni]] [[Category:2020 United States presidential electors]] [[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats]] [[Category:21st-century American women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]