Costanza, Margaret

Margaret "Midge" Costanza was born on November 28, 1932 in Rochester, New York. She entered politics in Rochester, serving as an Executive Committee Member of the 22nd Ward, 1959 to 1964, and serving as manager in Monroe County for Robert F. Kennedy's senatorial campaign in 1964. She was very active in the Democratic party, serving in the following capacities: Vice-Chairman, Monroe County Democratic Committee, 1966 to 1970; County Democratic Committee Member, 1966 to 1977; State Democratic Committee Member, 1967 to 1977; and National Democratic Committee Member, 1972 to 1977. She was a member of the Women's Political Caucus, 1972 to 1977; a member of the Rochester City Council, 1974 to 1977; and she served as Vice-Mayor of Rochester, New York, 1974 to 1977. She was a Democratic Candidate for Congress from the 35th Congressional District in 1974. Costanza was co-chair of Carter's 1976 New York State campaign; she was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976; and she was a member of the Democratic National Platform Committee in 1976. After Carter's election, she was appointed Assistant to the President for Public Liaison, on January 20, 1977. She resigned as director of Office of Public Liaison on August 2, 1978. When she resigned, the Office of Public Liaison effectively ceased to function and its tasks and staff were redistributed to appropriate government agencies and White House offices.