{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name=Harry Franklin Cato | image = State Rep. Harry Cato and Fred (1920269274).jpg | caption=Cato greeting Fred Thompson in 2007 | office=Speaker pro tempore of the South Carolina House of Representatives | term_start=December 2, 2008 | term_end=November 17, 2010 | predecessor=W. Douglas Smith | successor=Jay Lucas | state_house1=South Carolina | state1=South Carolina | district1=17th | term_start1=January 8, 1991 | term_end1=January 11, 2011 | predecessor1=Dill Blackwell<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.carolana.com/SC/1900s/sc_1900s_108th_general_assembly_members.html | title=South Carolina During the 1900s - the 108th General Assembly (1989-1990) }}</ref> | successor1=Tom Corbin<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=431188|title = Our Campaigns - SC State House 017 Race - Nov 04, 2008}}</ref> | birth_date={{birth date and age|1958|05|22}} | birth_place=Greenville, South Carolina | education=Clemson University (BS) | profession=Businessman | party=Republican |}}
'''Harry Franklin Cato''' is a former Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. From 1991 to 2010, he represented the state's 17th District. During his tenure, Cato served on the Rules Committee and was Chairman of the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee from 1994 until 2008. Cato also served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2008 to 2010. In the private sector, Cato is Manager of Cato Transportation Supply Inc.
Cato earned a Bachelor of Science from Clemson University in 1980 and now resides in Travelers Rest, SC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/0331818142.html |title=South Carolina Legislature Online |access-date=December 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309170310/http://www.scstatehouse.gov/members/bios/0331818142.html |archive-date=March 9, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== In the State House ==
During his 18 years in the House of Representatives, Cato has focused on commerce and business, even starting his own 527 Political Action Committee, the Carolina Commerce Fund (CCF). The CCF has raised over $100,000. As illustrated in the Committee's State Ethics Reports, a great deal of those funds go to other candidates and/or incumbents for political office.
The fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization Club for Growth gave Cato a grade of "D−" for the 2007–08 Legislative session (the last session for which the group has records).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007-2008 House Scorecard |url=http://www.scclubforgrowth.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/08housescorecard.pdf |website=www.scclubforgrowth.org}}</ref> Project Vote Smart has extensive information on Cato's voting record<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harry Cato's Voting Records |url=http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=4001 |website=votesmart.org}}</ref> and ratings<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harry Cato's Ratings and Endorsements |url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=4001 |website=votesmart.org}}</ref> from other organizations.
He lost the Republican nomination in 2010 to Tom Corbin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesexaminer.com/political/519-political-newcomer-corbin-unseats-speaker-pro-tem-harry-cato-in-district-17|title = Political Newcomer Corbin Unseats Speaker Pro Tem Harry Cato in District 17| date=July 5, 2010 }}</ref>
== Controversial vote ==
In filling a vacancy on the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2007, Representative Cato supported and voted for State Appeals Court Judge Don Beatty (noted in the S.C. Club for Growth Scorecard above). While most conservative groups and members of the South Carolina General Assembly opposed Beatty's confirmation to the Supreme Court, Cato helped forge alliances with the Black Caucus in support of Beatty.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=FRANK |first=HOWARD |date=2007-05-20 |title=Environmentalist John Serrao selected for prestigious award in education |url=http://www.goupstate.com/article/20070520/NEWS/705200342 |website=www.goupstate.com}}</ref>
Much of the conservative opposition to Beatty's confirmation was predicated on some of his votes as a legislator from 1991 to 1995. One of the most controversial votes was in opposition to a bill that would have required physicians to present literature on abortion alternatives to patients.<ref name=":0" /> Oran Smith, President of Palmetto Family Council, said of Beatty's vote on the abortion measure: "Only the most extreme liberals in the General Assembly voted against that."<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cato, Harry}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:South Carolina Republicans Category:People from Greenville, South Carolina Category:Clemson University alumni Category:People from Travelers Rest, South Carolina Category:20th-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly