Catherine Baker Knoll | |
|---|---|
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| 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 21, 2003 – November 12, 2008 | |
| Governor | Ed Rendell |
| Preceded by | Robert Jubelirer |
| Succeeded by | Joe Scarnati[1] |
| 72ndTreasurer of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 18, 1989[2] – January 22, 1997[3] | |
| Governor | Bob Casey Sr. Tom Ridge |
| Preceded by | Davis Greene |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Hafer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Catherine Baker (1930-09-03)September 3, 1930 |
| Died | November 12, 2008(2008-11-12) (aged 78) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Allegheny County Memorial Park Allison Park, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Charles A. Knoll |
| Profession | Teacher, businesswoman, politician |
Catherine Baker Knoll (September 3, 1930 – November 12, 2008) was an American politician and member of theDemocratic Party. She was the 30thlieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, serving underGovernorEd Rendell from 2003 to 2008, when she died in office. Prior to that, she served as the 72ndPennsylvania treasurer from 1989 to 1997. She was the first woman to be lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
Catherine Baker was born in thePittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks,[4] the daughter of Nick Baker, a successful man who later served as mayor of McKees Rocks[4] and Teresa May (one of eleven children). She was one of nine children, one of five girls and four boys. While a graduate atDuquesne University in 1952, she met and married Charles A. Knoll, a restaurateur and hotel owner 17 years her senior,[4] who became the Postmaster of theStowe,Kennedy, and McKees Rocks area. Charles Knoll and Catherine had three sons and one daughter. Their names are Charles A. Knoll Jr., Mina Baker Knoll, Albert Baker Knoll, and Kim Eric Knoll.[4]
Knoll began her political career as a campaign worker for local and statewide Democratic candidates, first for her father, Nick, and later for GovernorMilton Shapp. When Shapp was elected governor in 1970, he awarded Knoll a job with thePennsylvania Department of Transportation.
In 1976, she ran for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer but lost toRobert E. Casey, who was unrelated to, but often confused withBob Casey who went on to become Governor of Pennsylvania.[4] She ran again in 1984 but lost a close primary in which her opponent, Auditor GeneralAl Benedict, originally conceded on election night but later withdrew his concession.[4]In 1988, one year after her husband's death, she ran a third time and was elected state treasurer of Pennsylvania.[4]
She streamlined and modernized the treasurer's office during her eight-year tenure and started the Pennsylvania TAP program (Tuition Account Program),[4] built the PA Treasury Investment Center,[4] and started a partnership with PA Home Builders, PA Community Banks, to build PA[citation needed] Affordable Housing in 67 counties of Pennsylvania) according to the population of each county.[citation needed]
In 1994, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched an investigation into Knoll and her staff after four state consultants reaped improper fees from a prison bond issue.[4] Knoll claimed that the official paperwork had been altered after she signed off on the plan.[4] Knoll was never charged with a crime but the well-publicized inquiry hurt her politically. However, the four state consultants were found guilty and served prison time.[5]
Catherine Baker Knoll ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1994, having surprised Lieutenant GovernorMark Singel, by first withdrawing from the race and then hinting that she would consider running if the Democratic State Committee did not endorse anyone for the race.[4] The State Committee voted to endorse no candidate and Knoll re-entered the race only to finish third in a seven-way primary.[4]
In 1996, Knoll, who was term limited, endorsed her daughter Mina Baker Knoll as her successor. Mina Knoll's opponent, RepublicanBarbara Hafer questioned her residency status because she had lived in New York City and the Knoll campaign attacked Hafer's leadership as auditor general.[4] The race, which Hafer won, opened a rift between the two women that culminated in2000 when Knoll herself ran against Hafer for treasurer.[4] The race featuring arguably the two highest-profile women in Pennsylvania politics, was noted for its bitterness between the two; Hafer cited a fraud scandal investigation by the SEC into Knoll's office while she was treasurer, and Knoll attacked Hafer for questionable expenses paid by the state.[6][7] In the end, Hafer won the election by less than 100,000 votes.[4]
In2002, Knoll sought the Democratic nomination forLieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. She faced nine candidates in the primary, including state SenatorsAllen Kukovich,John Lawless,Thaddeus Kirkland, andJack Wagner, the latter of which was endorsed by the state party. Maintaining her base of support among women and senior citizens,[8] Knoll won the primary with 25% of the vote, winning 54 of the state's 67 counties.
She was paired with Democratic nominee for governorEd Rendell, who also defeated the establishment favorite in his primary (Bob Casey Jr.). Her campaign was memorable for her traveling from small town to small town (logging over 40,000 miles on her car), and her meeting thousands of voters, by visiting church basements, PTA meetings, fashion shows and construction sites.[9] The Rendell/ Knoll ticket won the general election 53% to 44% over RepublicansMike Fisher and his running mateJane Earll. Knoll was sworn in as Pennsylvania's first-ever female Lieutenant Governor on January 21, 2003.
Knoll's old rivalBarbara Hafer, after failing to secure the Republican nomination for governor, actually endorsed Rendell and later switched to the Democratic party.[10] This led to speculation that she was maneuvering to challenge Knoll for the lieutenant governor spot in the2006 primary. Hafer, however, stated that she and Knoll had buried the hatchet long ago,[11] and did not enter the race.
CongressmanJoe Hoeffel announced that he would challenge Knoll in the primary, but dropped out of the race a day later, after Ed Rendell reiterated his support for Knoll as his running-mate.[12] This left only token opposition against Knoll, and she won the Democratic nomination by a large margin. She and Governor Rendell defeated Republican challengersLynn Swann andJim Matthews towin reelection.
Knoll endorsed and campaigned withHillary Clinton in the lead-up to the2008 Pennsylvania Democratic primary for president.[13] Along with several other prominent Pennsylvania Democrats, Knoll's endorsement was seen as a key to Clinton's win.[14]
As lieutenant governor, she presided over every Pennsylvania Senate session. Governor Rendell noted that she was "instrumental in issues such as emergency management, domestic preparedness and economic development."[15]
In August 2008, Knoll revealed that she had been diagnosed withneuroendocrine cancer and was in treatment for the disease.[16] She was treated inHershey, Pennsylvania atPenn State Hershey Medical Center and attempted a return to her duties in September 2008 but fatigue forced her to return home.[17] In October 2008, she enteredJohns Hopkins Hospital inBaltimore, Maryland for treatment of a viral infection.[17] On November 12, 2008, Knoll died atMount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Upon her death,Pennsylvania State SenatePresident pro temporeJoe Scarnati became the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Treasurer of Pennsylvania 1989–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 2003–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forTreasurer of Pennsylvania 1988, 1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forTreasurer of Pennsylvania 2000 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 2002,2006 | Succeeded by |
| Vice-presidents (1777–1790) |  | |
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| Lieutenant governors (since 1875) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
