Castor primarily seeks out domestic approaches to addressing climate change, including reducing U.S. fossil fuel emissions. Her focus also can be quite local since her Florida district, which includes the coastal city of Tampa, confronts climate and sea level changes on multiple fronts. After earning a law degree at Florida State University, Kathy began her professional career as a land use attorney for the Florida Department of Community Affairs and won election in 2002 to a four-year term on the Hillsborough County Commission. She also served as chairwoman of the county’s Environmental Protection Commission.