Public Service

In 2001, Kathy was elected to the Tompkins County Board of Representatives, representing the 5th District (Fall Creek in the City of Ithaca, portions of Town of Ithaca in Cayuga Heights). During her tenure, she has acquired a reputation as being fair, direct, and plainspoken. Always mindful of the interests of diverse groups, and of the important contributions that differences in opinion bring to decision making, she actively works to build consensus and to support decisions more inclusive than “majority rules.”

Herrera is deeply committed to retaining the quality of life in Tompkins County for all residents. She is an avid supporter of good green jobs, transparency in local government, literacy, workforce housing, livable wages, job training for the unemployed or underemployed, worker rights, controlling property taxes, the development of good-paying jobs for area residents, and making living and shopping in Tompkins County more affordable.

In 2005, Kathy sought a second four-year term on the County Legislature and ran unopposed. She was re-elected with a 49% voter turnout from the 5th Ward’s 1st District, 44% from 5th Ward’s 4th District, and 30% voter turnout from the Town of Ithaca’s 9th District.

During her time in office, Kathy has served as Chair of the Government Operations (GO) Committee; Chair of the Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality (PDEQ) Committee; and Chair of the Facilities and Infrastructure (F&I) Committee. She has served as Vice-Chair of each of these committees, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of F&I. In addition, Kathy has served for three years on the Budget, Capital, and Finance Committee, and served for three years on the Workforce Investment Board.

Kathy has served on the Board of Directors of Tompkins Community Action, a nonprofit agency that seeks to improve the lives of low-income children, families, and individuals in Tompkins County. She serves on the Executive Board and currently chairs the Development Committee.

In addition to her assigned committee roles and liaisons, Kathy serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service (SPCS) in Ithaca, whose mission includes promoting constructive responses to crisis and trauma and preventing violence through direct support and community education. SPCS has been assisting the Binghamton City School District (BCSD) in the wake of the shootings that occurred on April 3 at the American Civic Association. Kathy is deeply moved by the commitment and expertise of staff and volunteers, and is honored to support their efforts.

In May 2008, Kathy applied for and was appointed to membership in the Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Ithaca Falls Overlook Project at the former Ithaca Gun Factory site. Located in the Fall Creek neighborhood, the former factory has been a source of environmental concerns as well as presenting an attractive nuisance for trespassers.

The Community Advisory Group provides a forum for community interests to be represented, which has led to changes in the site assessment process of the Ithaca Falls Overlook Project and continues to aid in supporting improvements to the cleanup of contamination at the site. Kathy sought appointment to the Community Advisory Group to participate in an important community cleanup project, and during the process, demonstrates her support for more stringent environmental testing and controls.