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While attending UC Berkeley, I ran the ASUC student body elections and that is where I first met Nancy Skinner who was a candidate for Academic Affairs. Nancy was a young woman who had already recognized her future in the political arena. Nancy won that election to become Vice President of the ASUC Academic Affairs in 1981 and while in Graduate school she served as the Executive Director of the Graduate Assembly – the independent graduate student government. Nancy’s collegiate political career is a perfect example of how the political pipeline — a sustainable flow of women advancing up the ladder of elected offices — works.
In 1984 I met Nancy again when she was a candidate for Berkeley City Council. Again Nancy won her election and became the first UC student to be elected to the City Council in Berkeley. Her dedication to her fellow students and the community at large was evident and college politics was the perfect place to cut her legislative teeth.
A long time community activist and environmental innovator, Nancy authored the first ban on Styrofoam at fast food outlets, resulting in McDonald’s stopping the use of Styrofoam throughout the United States. She worked as the Director of The Climate Group, an international organization working to bring business and governments together to find solutions to global warming. Looking out for future generations; Nancy co-authored the best selling book series, 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth.
In 2006 Nancy was elected to the East Bay Region Park Board in Ward 1 with 84% of the vote. She represents Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Kensington, Richmond, San Pablo, part of Pinole & Oakland. Since joining the Board, Nancy has been working to add acres to regional parks and expand Park District programs for youth and schools.
It was no surprise when I met Nancy as a candidate again last year when she approached the CALIFORNIA LIST for support for her campaign for the Assembly seat in District 14. I know first hand how Nancy has developed a political career with strength and experience. She has built a firm foundation of electability by moving up the political pipeline — a pipeline CALIFORNIA LIST has been helping to build for the last 6 years.
Even as a young woman back in college, Nancy was already thinking out of the box and using local action as a catalyst to larger social change. CALIFORNIA LIST is proud to endorse Nancy Skinner for State Assembly in District 14 and I urge you to support her in the upcoming June 3rd primary. Visit our website to make a contribution to Nancy’s campaign today!
Bettina Duval is the founder of the California List, a political fundraising network that helps elect Democratic women to all branches of California state government.
CALIFORNIA LIST is a political fundraising organization that helps elect Democratic women to all branches of California state government. We are a network of Californians from across the state.
CALIFORNIA LIST is modeled after the highly successful EMILY’s List that supports Democratic women running for office by providing early funding through their donor network.
Does it seem too early to start work so soon? CALIFORNIA LIST is already starting to work on the 2010 election because we continue to lose women to term limits. In 2010, will lose six legislators; two in the Senate and four in the Assembly. Early support is necessary because the 2010 election will include statewide races like governor, lieutenant governor, and treasurer that require large fundraising and visibility models. The time is now to begin working to help women win those statewide offices. We have already identified a few women in the pipeline to run statewide and are beginning to work with their campaigns to increase their viability.
The recent election showed us that together we can elect women. However, women do face challenges that are unique. If we want to see a woman governor or president, within the next 20 years, we need to continue to build our network. When women vote, women win, Democrats win. Please join us.
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May 10, 2008 1Shops of Spotlight on Nancy Skinner…
shops about academic affairs : While attending UC Berkeley, I ran the ASUC student body elections and that is where I first met Nancy Skinner who was a candidate for Academic Affairs. Nancy was a young woman who had already recognized her future in the…
Suzanne
May 15, 2008 2I find Nancy Skinner to be a very attractive candidate for the California State Assembly. HOwever, nowhere in any of her literature do I see anything about the aerial spraying that is scheduled to start in August and will affect millions of people in the Bay area; not to mention all of the wildlife. I hope that Nancy will add to her list of responsibilities with the East bay Regional Parks Board the task of protecting the people and the wildlife of the Bay area by Stopping the Spray; which has been called ineffective by entomologists.
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