Cathy Osten is a Democratic state senator representing Connecticut's 19th Senatorial District, which includes the communities of Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich, and Sprague. First elected in November 2012, she is currently serving her fifth term as Deputy President Pro Tempore. Notable achievements include sponsoring legislation to increase Connecticut’s minimum wage, a sex offender notification bill, the creation of senior safety zones task force, and a state version of “Erin’s Law” for child sexual abuse education. She previously served over two decades in the Connecticut Department of Corrections as a corrections officer and lieutenant, advocated against workplace sexual harassment, and led the Correction Supervisors’ Council of CSEA/SEIU. Osten was Sprague’s first female selectman and was appointed by Governor Malloy to the Two Storm Panel in 2011.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1973; enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving four years in Japan as a Chinese Mandarin translator-interpreter; attended Mohegan Community College.
• Political Experience:
  • Connecticut State Senate, District 19 : Co-Chair, Appropriations Committee; Vice Chair, Select Committee on Special Education; member of General Law, Joint Legislative Management, Regulation Review, Transportation, and Veterans and Military Affairs committees.
  • Sprague First Selectman.
  • President, Correction Supervisors’ Council of CSEA/SEIU.
  • Member, Two Storm Panel .