“Anthony Catella: A Life of Service and Commitment to Community”
Anthony Catella was born on Sunday, March 8, 1970, in St. Charles, IL, to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Catella. Anthony’s father has been an Attorney in St. Charles since 1966, upon arriving in town and establishing his practice. He served as City Attorney from 1977-1981. Anthony’s mother was an elementary school teacher, and he has one sister, Justine, who is a school psychologist.
Anthony has upheld strong values of honesty, faith, good manners, and purity of motive as he has grown and matured.
He completed his primary education at local schools: Davis School in St. Charles, Western Ave School in Geneva, and St. Patrick grade school and junior high in St. Charles, IL. He attended Valley Lutheran High School in St. Charles from 1985-1989, where he was active in school government and religious programs, lettered in baseball, and represented his high school at Premier Boy’s State IL, sponsored by his hometown American Legion post. He also participated in the VFW oration contest, delivering an essay on Memorial Day 1989, and later that summer, he spoke before the St. Charles City Council at the mayor’s invitation.
Anthony furthered his education at Quincy College, now known as Quincy University, from 1989-1994, earning a degree in American Studies. He completed an internship at a State representative’s office during his senior year as part of his college project and participated in World War II reenactments, reflecting his interest in military history.
After college, Anthony enlisted in the United States Army, serving in the Military Police Corps from 1994-1999 on active duty. His overseas service included a two-year stint in Germany from 1996-1998, during which he took part in Operation Joint Endeavor, a US/NATO-led mission to restore peace to the Balkans following the Bosnian War, for which he received the NATO Medal “In service of peace and freedom”. In recognition of his service, Anthony was awarded nine ribbons and medals, including the German Efficiency Badge (Gold). His highest commendation was the Army Achievement Award, which he received twice. He also received the National Defense Ribbon twice and earned four overseas service stripes, each representing six months of service abroad, amounting to a total of two years. Anthony was honorably discharged in acknowledgment of his honorable service to the nation.
From 2000 to 2010, Anthony pursued studies for the Catholic Priesthood while serving in the US Army Reserves as a commissioned officer training for Army Chaplaincy. He graduated from the US Army Chaplain Center and School in 2008 and was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Alexandria, LA, in 2010. He served there for five years, during which he also held the position of Chaplain (Captain) in the Louisiana Army National Guard and as a Police Chaplain for the Vidalia, LA, Police Department (2009-2010). In 2015, Anthony chose to leave the Priesthood and embarked on a new career in politics.
His political journey includes:
- Serving as an Election Judge from 2016-2018
- Being appointed a precinct committeeman for the 18th Precinct of St. Charles in 2018
- Running for Congress in the IL-14th district Republican primary and for a full term as a committeeman in 2020, receiving 1,119 votes in a seven-candidate race
- Campaigning for the Kane County Board district 13 in 2022
- Running for the St. Charles Library Board in 2023
- Currently campaigning for Circuit Clerk of the Kane County 16th Judicial District in 2024
Anthony’s military service continued beyond active duty. From 2018-2021, he served as a commissioned officer in the 2nd Brigade Indiana Guard Reserve, a component of the Military Department of Indiana. In 2021, he transferred to the United States Veteran Reserve Corps 1st Indiana Battalion and became a member of the 1st Illinois Battalion USVRC as a Captain in 2023.
The Veteran Reserve Corps, a unit with historical significance dating back to the Civil War, has a mission focused on civil affairs, providing community assistance during disasters and community service. Throughout his diverse career as a soldier, priest, and statesman, Anthony has consistently been driven by the highest standards of service, inspired by historical figures, his educational journey, and the positive influences of those he has encountered.
Since the fall of 2023, Anthony has been imparting knowledge to young students at the One Life Christian School in Geneva, IL, teaching about the US Constitution.
Dedicated to volunteerism, Anthony contributes to the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign and has long served with the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Squad at the National Cemetery in Elwood, IL, where he assists in presenting military honors to veterans at their interment.
Anthony’s life philosophy echoes the sentiments of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., a personal hero with whom he shares a birthday: “As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the action and passion of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.” His political ideology is encapsulated in “The American’s Creed,” which emphasizes a government of, by, and for the people, deriving its just powers from the governed, constituting a democracy within a republic, and upholding liberty, freedom, justice, and humanity.
He is committed to running a campaign that prioritizes the United States’ best interests at the county level, placing America first to bolster the prospects for peace and the advancement of freedom.
Anthony welcomes support for his campaign and can be reached at (630) 621-5030 or via email at anthonycatella@gmail.com.
Although unopposed in the primary, he will face the incumbent in the fall general election and is planning a significant fundraising event in the summer or early fall. To learn more about his beliefs and positions, please visit: www.youtube.com/@anthonycatella
Anthony extends his gratitude for the interest in his campaign and, if elected, pledges to serve as an honest Circuit Clerk and to manage an efficient office for the benefit of the Kane County Judicial Circuit’s constituents.
