Meet Catherine

Catherine L. Stark is a lifelong Riverhead resident and a fifth generation native of the First Legislative District. Her great-great grandfather, John C. Stark, came to Southold in 1840 and lived there until the 1860s, when he started a farm in Baiting Hollow. Since then, Catherine’s family has planted roots and grown throughout the East End. Catherine is the proud mother of three grown children and two grandchildren.

Catherine’s mother Patricia, and father, Jim Stark, who was also the 57th Supervisor of the Town of Riverhead, raised Catherine and her three siblings in the family tradition of public service. In addition to volunteering with the Riverhead Lions Club and other community groups over the years, serving her community has been the focus of Catherine’s career for the past three decades.

Catherine began working for Suffolk County in 1996—first for the Clerk of the Legislature and then for the Director of Real Property Tax Services, Penny Wells LaValle. Her experience with the executive branch grew by leaps and bounds when, five years later, former County Executive Bob Gaffney hired Catherine to work for his Community Services and Intergovernmental Relations divisions.

Over the last twenty years, Catherine also had the pleasure of working for constituents on both the South and North Forks. For seven years, Catherine served as Chief of Staff for former Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman before he became Southampton Town Supervisor. Since 2013, Catherine had done the same for former Legislator Al Krupski, before he became Southold Town Supervisor.

Catherine has a broad range of expertise in Suffolk County government, as well as the state, town, and village agencies it partners with. In addition to managing staff and public monies, her experience has included crafting policy, lobbying for legislation, and assisting with its implementation. Catherine has been a liaison to the Suffolk County Department of Public Works for over 20 years, and worked closely with mayors, trustees, supervisors, council members, and commissioners—throughout the region.

Catherine is honored to work with you, the residents of the First District, as your County Legislator.