Judy Nicastro

Judy Nicastro is an American former politician who served from 2000 to 2004 as a Seattle City Council member in Position 1.

Early life and education Nicastro was born in New Jersey to working-class parents. Living in Saddle River, New Jersey, Nicastro experienced the importance of political power when she and her mother suffered from funding cuts to widows' benefits when President Reagan signed the 1981 budget; her mother had been unsuccessful in lobbying their representatives in Congress to oppose the elimination of the program.

She lived in New York City and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, later working at Lord & Taylor. She was labeled a "Pragmatic Populist," Nicastro and Chow got first and second place in the August primary, respectively.

Chow outraised Nicastro by over $12,000 due to support from landlords and other business leaders.

In the November General Election, Nicastro narrowly defeated Chow, 50.49% to 49.51%.

Seattle City Council (1999–2003) While in office, Nicastro chaired the Landlord/Tenant & Land Use Committee, where she sponsored bills to strengthen tenant rights, lower parking requirements for affordable housing units, and increase density around transit hubs.

Strippergate Scandal Former Washington state governor Albert Rosellini assisted the Colacurcios family by lobbying six members of the Seattle City Council and raising funds for three of the politicians. In June 2003, James Bush, a reporter for the North Seattle Sun, reported city council members Judy Nicastro, Jim Compton and Heidi Wills received large amounts of campaign donations from the Colacurcio family and their business associates. On June 16, 2003, in a 5–4 vote, the council approved the parking zoning changes allowing them to use their existing land for parking requested by the Colacurcios.

Mayor Greg Nickels would endorse Godden in the November general election, a rare move for a Seattle mayor. Nicastro claimed the endorsement was due to a letter she sent to Nickels accusing him of lying, threatening her, and stealing her ideas.

Personal life Nicastro and her husband have two children together. In June 2013, after House Republicans passed a bill that would restrict abortions after 22 weeks, Nicastro released an op-ed talking about her struggle conceiving through IVF and her abortion at 22 weeks after complications carrying twins.