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WOMEN IN POLITICS
BEING THE SPOUSE OF A LOCAL POLITICIAN
BY TERRY DANIELE
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Rochester Women’s Online magazine wondered what life was like for the spouse of a local politician. We reached out to two wonderful women to chat about their life partners and what life looks like living with someone involved in public service. This month we bring you Karen McArthur and Tina Maffucci. Karen McArthur’s life partner is Michael Yudelson. Michael Yudelson is Monroe County Legislator for District 13 (Henrietta, Pittsford). Tina is married to Howard Maffucci, Monroe County Legislator for District 10 (Pittsford, East Rochester, Brighton).
Karen invited us to her and Michael’s home in Henrietta to talk. She told us she and Michael have known each for 41 years and have been a couple more than 20 years. Between them they have 6 children. All are adults now and some have their own children. Karen readily admits that being Grandma to four grandchildren (number five is due in the fall) is one of her favorite roles.
Karen and Michael met in 1981. At the time, Michael was the Recreation Director for the town of Henrietta and Karen was the Director of Winslow Elementary after school and summer programs in Henrietta. The focus of each of their positions was to enhance quality of life in the community. Karen was focused on young children and Michael focused on all age groups. They discovered their convictions were similar and, from that, grew the wonderful partnership that they share today.
As a result of their jobs, holidays and special occasions were often spent not just with their own children but also with other families and children. Their own children came to know and expect holidays were meant to be shared with the community, especially those who did not have the same advantages they
did. Everyone was welcomed. Karen hopes there are many adults and older children in Henrietta who still feel like the Yudelson/McArthur clan is their extended family.
In time, Michael made a successful run for Town Board of the Town of Henrietta. Six years after that, when Michael was considering a run for Town Supervisor, it was a decision that Michael and Karen made together. Karen had concerns about the impact of that more high-profile job on their family. Michael ran and was elected to three terms as Supervisor. Karen found that though the experience was mostly positive, especially Michael’s positive achievements, she was bothered by some of the negative and unfair characterizations of Michael. She also found some viewed her only as Michael’s partner. Though she had her own career and accomplishments, she found her own record was not the basis for some people’s view of her. Looking back, Karen realizes that she grew strength from noting the practices of women who were married to more national elected officials. Each of those women was deeply supportive of her husband but also carved out and maintained her own path and goals. She was able to be happy for Michael and to take pride in her own work.
Karen says that while politics has played an important role in their lives, it is only a part of who they are. Caring for others and giving back to the community is what brought them together, sustained their family and will always be paramount for Karen and Michael.
We next went to the home of Tina and Howard Maffucci. While there we learned a little about Tina and her own career. She had worked with a professor identifying and working with autistic children and special needs children during her college years. That became her focus as she moved into regular classrooms.
She and Howard were both in the teaching profession but did not know each other until they met on a blind date. Their meeting turned into a life commitment, 3 years after they met when they were married. They have two adult children and now grandchildren.
Tina continued to teach and, like Karen, carved her own path while being fully supportive of her husband. Howard went on to become superintendent of the East Rochester School District. They were both involved with the community as teachers and Howard also as a coach. Time together as a family was important so they always made sure the kids were part of whatever they were doing. Howard and Tina made the decision that Howard would run for county legislator four years ago. Tina and their daughter Amy ran his successful campaign, Tina mostly behind the scenes. As Howard’s tenure has progressed, Tina is more and more comfortable in a more active role. The Maffucci’s had their own family but they shared an extended family as well, the community. This does seem to be common among people who are willing to devote their time to public service. Like the Yudelson/McArthur’s, the Maffucci’s worked and dedicated themselves to their community and instilled the ideal in their children. Both families have raised successful children and some of whom are in public service. Being in the public eye all the time and subject to the scrutiny it brings has not always been easy for either Tina or Karen, but the gift of making a difference has made the few struggles they have had easier. It is clear that when someone wants to devote a portion of their lives to help their community it is not a one-person investment. It takes a family with love and support to make it happen and these two families have accomplished exactly that.
RWO would like to thank the Yudelson/ McArthur family and the Maffucci family for allowing us a look into their lives.
