{{Short description|American politician (born 1986)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Simon Cataldo | office = Member of the<br>[[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]<br>from the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 14th Middlesex district|14th Middlesex]] district | term_start = January 4, 2023 | predecessor = [[Tami Gouveia]] | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | education = [[Colorado College]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[University of Virginia School of Law|University of Virginia]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]]) | website = https://simoncataldo.com/ | birth_date = {{birth date and age|July 19, 1986}} }}
'''Simon Joseph Cataldo''' (born July 19, 1986) is an American politician who represents the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 14th Middlesex district|14th Middlesex District]] in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Representative Simon Cataldo |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/S_C1/Bills}}</ref> He represents the town of [[Carlisle, Massachusetts|Carlisle]], and parts of the towns of [[Acton, Massachusetts|Acton]], [[Chelmsford, Massachusetts|Chelmsford]], and [[Concord, Massachusetts|Concord]].
== Early life and career == Cataldo grew up in [[West Concord, Massachusetts]], with his parents and two sisters. His mother was a Concord Family Services social worker,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Services {{!}} Concord, MA |url=https://www.concordma.gov/946/Social-Services |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=www.concordma.gov}}</ref> and his father is an economist who has taught accounting at [[Suffolk University]] and the [[University of Rhode Island]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Cataldo |url=https://web.uri.edu/business/meet/james-cataldo/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> Cataldo attended Thoreau Elementary, Peabody Middle School, and graduated from [[Concord-Carlisle High School|Concord-Carlisle Regional High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concord resident seeks 14th Middlesex House seat |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/concord-journal/2021/08/09/environment-social-justice-key-causes-concord-state-rep-candidate/5501592001/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Wicked Local |language=en-US}}</ref>
Cataldo attended [[Colorado College]] and graduated ''[[magna cum laude]]'' with a degree in [[Environmental science|Environmental Science]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fennell ’21 |first=Julia |title=Simon Cataldo '08 Wins Democratic Primary for Massachusetts State Representative - Colorado College |url=https://www.coloradocollege.edu/newsevents/newsroom/2022/simon-cataldo-08-wins-democratic-primary-for-massachusetts-state-representative.html#.ZAFJ3nbMLIU |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=www.coloradocollege.edu |language=en-US}}</ref> At Colorado College, Cataldo contributed to research on the kinetics of biodiesel production.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Morgenstern |first1=Mark |last2=Cline |first2=Jessica |last3=Meyer |first3=Sally |last4=Cataldo |first4=Simon |date=2006-07-01 |title=Determination of the Kinetics of Biodiesel Production Using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ( 1 H NMR) |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ef0503764 |journal=Energy & Fuels |language=en |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=1350–1353 |doi=10.1021/ef0503764 |issn=0887-0624|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
After teaching special education for three years and developing the program that became Harlem Lacrosse,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Simon |url=https://www.repcataldo.com/simon |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=State Representative Simon Cataldo |language=en-US}}</ref> Cataldo enrolled at the [[University of Virginia School of Law|University of Virginia Law School]]. While at UVA, Cataldo was selected to be the managing editor of the [[Virginia Law Review]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-10 |title=Masthead - Virginia Law Review |url=https://virginialawreview.org/masthead/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=virginialawreview.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
Cataldo was recognized with the Ritter Award, given to four students who exemplify the honor, character, and integrity envisioned by [[Thomas Jefferson]] when he founded the University.<ref name="law.virginia.edu">{{Cite web |date=2017-05-10 |title=Mary Claiborne and Roy H. Ritter Prizes |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/academics/mary-claiborne-and-roy-h-ritter-prizes |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=University of Virginia School of Law |language=en}}</ref> Upon graduation, Cataldo also received the [[James E. Slaughter|James C. Slaughter]] Honor Award, which is presented to an outstanding member of the graduating class.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-27 |title=Annual Law School Awards, Fellowships and Honors |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/academics/annual-law-school-awards-fellowships-and-honors |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=University of Virginia School of Law |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-19 |title=Congressman Kennedy Tells Class of 2014 'Fortunes of Country May Depend' on Their Efforts Graduation Awards |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/2014_spr/graduation_class_of_2014.htm |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=University of Virginia School of Law |language=en}}</ref>
== Teaching and Harlem Lacrosse == Following his graduation from Colorado College, Cataldo joined [[Teach For America|Teach for America]] and was placed as a special education math teacher at [[Frederick Douglass Academy|Frederick Douglass Academy (FDA)]], a 6–12th grade school in [[Harlem|Harlem, New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-15 |title=Simon Cataldo launches state representative campaign for 14th Middlesex District |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2021/08/15/simon-cataldo-launches-state-rep-campaign-for-14th-middlesex-district |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Lowell Sun |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dawsey |first=Josh |date=2012-10-27 |title=Harlem's Lacrosse Rookies Score Scholarships |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204598504578080670860375946.html |access-date=2023-05-31 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
Cataldo started Harlem’s first public middle school lacrosse team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gutierrez |first=Matthew |date=2019-05-17 |title=A Harlem Team Is Changing the Face of Lacrosse |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/sports/harlem-lacrosse.html |access-date=2023-05-31 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He later founded Harlem Lacrosse, a national school-based [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] operating in public schools in [[Baltimore]], [[Boston]], Harlem, the [[The Bronx|Bronx]], [[Philadelphia]], and [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=Harlem Lacrosse |url=https://www.harlemlacrosse.org/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Harlem Lacrosse |language=en-US}}</ref> The students in the program experienced improvements in academic performance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Impact |url=https://www.harlemlacrosse.org/impact |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Harlem Lacrosse |language=en-US}}</ref>
== U.S. Department of Justice and public corruption prosecutor == After graduating from Law School, Cataldo clerked for [[William J. Kayatta Jr.|William J. Kayatta Jr]]., one of President Obama’s federal court of appeals appointees. He was later drafted into the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Honors Program to prosecute public corruption in the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-28 |title=Doing Good: These Law School Alumni Are Making a Difference in the Nonprofit World |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/doing-good-these-law-school-alumni-are-making-difference-nonprofit-world |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=UVA Today |language=en}}</ref> a specialized section of the Justice Department dedicated to combating public corruption and election crimes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-24 |title=Public Integrity Section (PIN) |url=https://www.justice.gov/criminal-pin |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> At the DOJ, Cataldo investigated and prosecuted some of the most high-profile corruption cases in the country, including the successful trial of Arizona Sheriff [[Joe Arpaio]], who was found guilty of criminal contempt and then [[Pardon of Joe Arpaio|pardoned]] by then-U.S. President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dwyer |first=Colin |date=July 31, 2017 |title=Ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio Convicted Of Criminal Contempt |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/31/540629884/ex-sheriff-joe-arpaio-convicted-of-criminal-contempt |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=npr}}</ref>
Cataldo also prosecuted Joseph Boeckmann, a state judge in Arkansas, for a bribery and fraud scheme in addition to witness tampering,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-21 |title=Former Arkansas State Judge Sentenced to Prison for Dismissing Cases in Exchange for Personal Benefits and Tampering With a Witness |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-arkansas-state-judge-sentenced-prison-dismissing-cases-exchange-personal-benefits-and |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> and [[Scott Maddox]], the former Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, for RICO, fraud, and bribery. Cataldo also led the prosecution of James King, a former U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official who was convicted of steering disabled veterans to sham vocational schools in exchange for bribes from the school owners.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-15 |title=Department of Veterans Affairs Official Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for $2 Million Bribery Scheme Involving Program for Disabled Military Veterans |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-veterans-affairs-official-sentenced-11-years-prison-2-million-bribery-scheme |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> While serving at the Department of Justice, Cataldo was a substantial contributor to the Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses Manual, which serves as the Department of Justice’s comprehensive guidance on campaign finance and election-related criminal statutes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pilger |first=Richard C. |date=December 2017 |title=Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses: Eighth Edition |url=https://www.justice.gov/criminal/file/1029066/download}}</ref>
== Massachusetts House of Representatives ==
=== Elections === Cataldo mounted his campaign for State Representative in the summer of 2021, after incumbent [[Tami Gouveia]] announced that she would run for [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts|Lieutenant Governor]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=tamigouveia |date=2021-06-07 |title=Tami Gouveia announces campaign for Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor |url=https://www.tamigouveia.com/masslive-tami-gouveia-announces-campaign-for-massachusetts-lieutenant-governor/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Tami Gouveia, DrPH, MPH, MSW |language=en-US}}</ref> Cataldo’s campaign focused on local issues such as addressing [[Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances|PFAS]] pollution in the drinking water supply, transportation infrastructure, adequately funding public schools, as well as broader challenges involving reproductive rights, mental health services, economic vitality, and climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Priorities |url=https://simoncataldo.com/priorities/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Simon Cataldo for the 14th Middlesex District |language=en-US}}</ref>
In the Democratic primary, Cataldo defeated two primary opponents, Vivian Birchall of Acton and Patricia Wojtas of Chelmsford. The result of the primary was 57.4% for Cataldo, 27.4% for Birchall, and 14.8% for Wojtas.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourteenth Middlesex District |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives_Fourteenth_Middlesex_District |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> Cataldo was endorsed over his primary opponents by [[Planned Parenthood]] Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, the [[Massachusetts AFL–CIO|Massachusetts AFL-CIO]], and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, in addition to other labor and environmental groups and many local [[Select board|Select Board]] and School Committee members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endorsements |url=https://simoncataldo.com/endorsements/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Simon Cataldo for the 14th Middlesex District |language=en-US}}</ref>
In the general election, Cataldo consolidated support from Democrats and Independents to beat Republican Rodney Cleaves of Chelmsford, 72.8% to 27.2%.<ref name=":1" />
=== Legislation === In his first term, Representative Cataldo filed 24 bills.<ref name=":0" /> His legislation covers early childhood education, higher education admissions, renewable energy, workforce development, tax relief, public safety, and substance use recovery.
== Personal life == Cataldo currently lives in Concord, Massachusetts with his wife and four children. He is a member of Kerem Shalom synagogue, and serves on the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. He continues to serve as the Board President of Harlem Lacrosse.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Massachusetts House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cataldo, Simon}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]] [[Category:Colorado College alumni]] [[Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni]] [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]