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FOR CALIFORNIA STATE OFFICE - 2010
CALIFORNIA LIST is looking for a few good women!
The 2008 election may be over, but the good fight continues. CALIFORNIA LIST is looking ahead to 2010 when we might lose three women Democrats in the Assembly and two Democratic women in the Senate as a result of term limits. Who will fill their seats when the time comes? This will become our $64,000 question over the next 2 years as we diligently work to reverse the trend of the declining number of women elected into positions in California state office by keeping the pipeline filled with viable, pro-choice Democratic women candidates.
We will be meeting with women over the coming months and attending training seminars to determine viable candidates who have expressed interest in running in 2010.
We are beginning to post them here so that you can contribute to their campaigns and visit their websites to get to know them better. Early identification and fundraising is critical to running and winning seats in any election.
ONLY THE CANDIDATES LISTED FOLLOWED BY THE CALIFORNIA LIST LOGO ARE CURRENTLY ENDORSED. OTHER CANDIDATES ARE LISTED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE 2010 ELECTION CYCLE.
Any suggestions by members and friends of candidates to interview would be openly appreciated. Please contact us at info@californialist.org and help us build the pipeline to the future!
Janice Hahn
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
State Executive Branch
Councilwoman Janice K. Hahn is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Councilwoman Hahn is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the District 15 encompassing the Los Angeles communities of Watts, Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Athens on the Hill, and San Pedro. She was elected in 2001 and is currently serving in her final term having been re-elected in 2005 and 2009.
Councilwoman Hahn has been a champion of gang prevention programs. She initiated the Watts Gang Task Force, which meets weekly and has for the time being ended homicides in the Watts community. She also implemented the Gang Alternatives Program throughout the fifteenth district. Citywide, she pushed Proposition A, which would have increased the annual parcel tax to create a permanent revenue source for gang prevention and intervention programs. The measure fell short of the two thirds required majority vote. Councilwoman Hahn has also worked to improve operations at the Port of Los Angeles and clean up surrounding port communities. She oversees the redevelopment projects in San Pedro and Wilmington which are transforming the waterway. Working with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, she secured passage of the historic Clean Air Action Plan which is removing dirty trucks from the ports and will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through her position on the Council, Councilwoman Hahn has fought for the rights of nurses, court interpreters, port workers, and other constituencies throughout the city. Hahn led the charge to provide a living wage to workers at the hotels along the Century Boulevard corridor bordering Los Angeles International Airport. Hotel workers had been deprived of tips, health insurance, and other fundamental rights.
Prior to her service as Councilwoman, she was elected in 1997 to represent the District 15 on the Charter Reform Commission, which resulted in area planning commissions, neighborhood councils, and broader mayoral powers, among other new policies. In 1998 she ran as a Democrat for a seat in the United States House of Representatives for California’s 36th District. She was defeated by Republican Steven T. Kuykendall, but received 47% of the vote. Before elected to these local positions, Councilwoman Hahn was a businesswoman. She served as Public Affairs region manager at Southern California Edison, then as Vice President for Prudential Securities in Public Finance, then as Director of Community Outreach for Western Waste Industries, and most recently as Director of Marketing for the Alexander Haagen Company.
Councilwoman Hahn was elected to her posts not only because of her business background, but because of much community activism including serving as President of the Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce, President of the Board of Directors of the Harbor Area Gang Alternative Program, Chairwoman of the South Bay School to Career Alliance, member of the Board of Directors of the Watts/Willowbrook Boys Girls Club, member of the Board of Directors of the South Bay Private Industry Council, member of the Gardena Economic Development Committee, and member of the Harbor Area Advisory Board with Habitat for Humanity.
She is the sister of former Mayor James Hahn, daughter of former County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, and niece of former city Councilman Gordon Hahn.
Debra Bowen
Re-Election Candidate for Secretary of State
State Executive Branch
Debra Bowen currently serves as California’s 30th Secretary of State and is running for re-election. A pioneer in open government reform, election integrity, and personal privacy rights, Debra Bowen became only the sixth woman in California history elected to a statewide constitutional office when she was elected as Secretary of State in November 2006.As the chief elections officer for the largest state in the nation, Secretary Bowen is responsible for overseeing state and federal elections, a role that also requires her to test and certify the voting equipment used in California. Her goal is to ensure that voting machines certified for use in Californians elections are secure, accurate, reliable, and accessible, and every voter’s ballot is counted exactly as it was cast.
In her first year in office, Secretary Bowen commissioned an independent, top-to-bottom review of voting technology, as well as a comprehensive review of the state’s decades-old election auditing standards. Following the top-to-bottom review, Bowen strictly limited the use of direct recording electronic voting machines, and imposed significant security and auditing requirements on systems used in California elections. Secretary Bowen was recognized for her national leadership in election integrity with the 2008 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage AwardTM, the nation’s most prestigious honor for elected public servants who choose principles over partisanship.
Secretary Bowen is also responsible for helping to carry out election laws and campaign disclosure requirements by maintaining a statewide database of registered voters, certifying the official lists of candidates for each election, tracking and certifying ballot initiatives, compiling election returns, and certifying the election results for all state and federal contests.
Kamala Harris
Candidate for Attorney General
State Executive Branch
Kamala D. Harris, candidate for Attorney General (State Executive Branch), is the District Attorney of San Francisco. A veteran prosecutor, Kamala has dedicated her outstanding legal talents to prosecuting violent crime, combating the sexual exploitation of children and working creatively to improve the quality of life in our communities.
As Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County from 1990 to 1998, Kamala prosecuted hundreds of serious and violent felonies, including homicide, rape and child sexual assault cases. Before being recruited to join the City Attorney’s office, Kamala was the Managing Attorney of the Career Criminal Unit of the San Francisco District Attorney’s office.
Among her many community activities, Kamala is Co-Chair of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; President of the Board of Directors of Partners Ending Domestic Abuse; elected member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bar Association; and founder of an SF Museum of Modern Art mentoring program which has served hundreds of young people from the inner city.
Kamala was born in Oakland and raised in Berkeley. Her parents, both professors, were active in the Civil Rights Movement and instilled in Kamala a strong commitment to justice and public service. That commitment led Kamala to Howard University, America’s oldest black university, and then to Hastings College of the Law. Kamala has been recognized many times for the excellence of her work, but most recently, she earned an award from the County Counsel Association of California for her work granting gay couples equal rights in child adoption cases.
Gloria Romero
Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction
State Executive Branch
State Senator Gloria Romero was elected to Senate District 24 in 2001, which serves East Los Angeles and the greater San Gabriel Valley. She quickly rose in leadership to become the Democratic Caucus Chair and Majority Leader of the Senate – the first and only woman to ever hold this leadership position in the history of the California Senate.
Gloria has chaired both the Education Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education. She is recognized as one of the most influential voices on education policy in California and believes that education is the “civil rights issue” of our time. Gloria understands the transformative power of education, having been raised by a mother with only a 6th grade education, Gloria pursued a higher education and received a PhD in Psychology from the University of California.
She has authored numerous pieces of legislation focused on parole and sentencing reform and as chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee she became the voice for reform of the California prison system.
With a long history in public service, Gloria was elected to the California Assembly in 1998 and served as Majority Whip. In 1995, became the first Latina elected to the Los Angeles community college Board of Trustees — the largest community college district in the nation. Gloria has been the recipient of many awards and most recently was named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of four “Outstanding Women to Watch in 2008.”
Noreen Evans
Candidate for Senate
District 2 (Napa, Sonoma)
Assemblywoman Noreen Evans is a candidate for Senate in District 2, currently held by Senator Pat Wiggins, servicing the counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma. Assemblywoman Evans currently represents the 7th State Assembly District, which includes all of Napa County and portions of Solano and Sonoma Counties.
Assemblywoman Evans has four primary legislative priorities: fighting for families and children, protecting our environment, reforming our legal system, and advocating for California’s wine industry. Now in her third term of office, Assemblywoman Evans serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. In that capacity, she chaired the Budget Conference Committee which forged compromises leading to the final budget proposal. She also works to support the Assembly Speaker’s efforts to modernize and reform California’s budget process. In addition, Assemblywoman Evans is a member of the Committees on Banking and Finance, Governmental Organization, and Judiciary. She also serves on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Representing much of California’s premium wine growing region, Assemblywoman Evans has chaired the Assembly Select Committee on Wine for the past four years, where she serves as a liaison between the wine industry and the Assembly.
As a member of the Law Revision Commission, Evans studies intricate legal problems to resolve deficits in our laws and identifies major policy questions for legislative attention. As a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, she also advises the Governor and the Legislature on inequities in laws, practices and conditions that affect women. As a member of the Coastal Conservancy, she works to protect, preserve and restore California’s beautiful coastline.
Prior to her election to the Assembly in 2004, Assemblywoman Evans served two terms on the Santa Rosa City Council, and three years on the Santa Rosa Planning Commission. An attorney by training, Assemblywoman Evans also practiced law for more than twenty years, focusing on civil litigation and appeals.
Assemblywoman Evans has a Juris Doctor degree from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of Pacific and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento. She lives in Santa Rosa and has three children: Erin, Joel, and Rachel.
Anna Caballero
Candidate for Senate
District 12 (Merced, Salinas)
Assemblymember Anna Caballero is running for Senate District 12 and is currently serving in the assembly representing District 28. Assemblymember Caballero was elected to serve the 28th Assembly District in November of 2006 and is a strong advocate for public safety, affordable housing, quality health care and education.
Now in her second term, Assemblymember Caballero has been re-appointed as chair of the Committee on Local Government, and as a member of the following committees: Accountability and Administrative Review; Budget; Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources; Water, Parks and Wildlife; and, the Select Committee on Renewable Energy. In recognition of her extensive work to prevent youth violence and gang membership, Caballero has also been re-appointed as chair of the Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention.
Born to a family of copper miners, Assemblymember Caballero graduated from the University of California San Diego magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sociology, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Los Angeles. She moved to the Salinas Valley 30 years ago to work for California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA). As an attorney, she represented striking farm workers and fought side by side with unions to prevent plant closures.
Seeing the need for legal representation at a price working families could afford, Caballero and two colleagues founded a law firm, Caballero, Matcham & McCarthy, in 1982. The business received many awards, and she was personally recognized by the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Athena Award for entrepreneurial excellence. Assemblymember Caballero took a leave from her law practice to serve as the executive director of Partners for Peace, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the community together to prevent gang violence, with a focus on literacy, early childhood education, youth employment and empowerment, and providing services to families.
Assemblymember Caballero is also a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her husband, Juan Uranga, is the director of the Center for Community Advocacy in Salinas.
Mary Salas
Candidate for Senate
District 40 (San Diego, Riverside County)
Assemblymember Mary Salas was elected to represent the 79th California State Assembly District in November of 2006. She is running for Senate District 40 which represents San Diego and parts of Riverside County, the seat currently held by Denise Moreno Ducheny who will be termed out in 2010. Senator Ducheny has endorsed Assemblymember Salas in her bid for the Senate seat.
Assemblymember Salas was appointed Chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs in 2007 and is committed to veteran’s issues having a long military tradition in her family where her father and six uncles all served in the armed forces. In addition to being Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Assemblymember Salas serves on the following standing committees: Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy; Water, Parks and Wildlife; and the Committee on Health. Before serving in the state Assembly, Assemblymember Salas became the first Latina elected to the Chula Vista City Council in 1996. As a Councilwoman, she chaired the University Working Group to establish a higher education center in the region.
Her commitment to improving the quality of life for the people in the district is longstanding. She served for seven years on the California Trade and Commerce Agency, and as board member of the South County Economic Development Council. Assemblymember Salas graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Diego State University and received a Bachelor of Social Work.
Christina Billeci
Candidate for Assembly
District 3 (Nevada County, Yuba County)
Vice Mayor Christina Billeci is running for Assembly in District 3 that serves Northern California including the counties of Butte, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, and Yuba. Currently, she is Vice Mayor of the City of Marysville and is in her third term sitting on the City Council having been originally elected in 2000. Vice Mayor Billeci has been in public service in her city for nine years.
Vice Mayor Billeci graduated with honors from the California State University, Chico in 1977 and believes the California educational system is in crisis and plans to make educational needs a top priority if elected to serve in the Assembly. Vice Mayor Billeci also supports efforts to create 7,000 new jobs and over $500 million in income in the North State through renewable electricity production with biomass, wind, solar, and geothermal. She believes cities and counties can make a significant first step toward creating a new energy economy through Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants, weatherization programs, and green jobs training.
In 2003, Councilwoman Billeci helped steer the first Regional Children’s Health Initiative in the state by developing “Health Kids/Healthy Future, a public/private partnership in Yuba, Colusa, El Dorado and Sacramento Counties. Paid with tobacco tax dollars, the program increased health insurance coverage to children 0-18 who were in families with incomes up to 300% of the Federal poverty level–or $58,050 for a family of four. Healthy Kids/Healthy Future launched on September 15, 2006. “It was one of the most significant moments of my life,” Ms. Billeci stated.
Ms. Billeci has also been active on numerous Boards and Commissions. She was a member of the Yuba-Sutter Fair Board from 2000-2003. She was the city representative to the Marysville Business Improvement District, working to support small business marketing and expansion. She currently serves on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the Regional Food Collaborative, the Harmony Health Family Resource Center Board, FREED Center for Independent Living, Friends of the Bok Kai Temple, and represents the City of Marysville on the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce. She graduated from the Great Valley Leadership Institute in August 2002.
Lauren Hammond
Candidate for Assembly
District 9 (Sacramento)
Lauren Hammond is a candidate for Assembly in District 9. She was elected to the Sacramento City Council on March 4, 1997, making her the first African American woman in Sacramento history to be elected to the Council. Lauren is a long time community leader and neighborhood activist and has lived in Sacramento for most of her life.
After working 22 years for the State Senate as a Telecommunications Contract Administrator, and the Senate’s Coordinator for the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lauren chose to concentrate full time on her Council duties.
As part of her Council responsibilities, Lauren sits on the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) as well as the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD). She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), Sacramento Regional Solid Waste Authority Board, Sacramento Regional Transit, and Paratransit, Inc. Lastly, Lauren chairs SACOG’s Government Relations and Public Affairs Committee as well as the Florin Road Foundation.
Throughout her elective career, Lauren has worked on district issues like sidewalks to schools, traffic management, expansion of youth services and economic development. Citywide concerns include youth empowerment, predatory lending education, smart growth policies and neighborhood equity.
Lauren is a lifetime member of the California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research (CEWAER). Additionally, she is a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center. In 2007, she received the CSUS Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award. She has been named one of Sacramento’s Most Powerful Women by Sacramento Magazine. Lauren has been inducted into the National Coalition of Black Women (NCBW) and is also a Class IX Member of the American Leadership Forum (ALF).
Lauren is a graduate of C. K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento City College and California State University, Sacramento.
Alyson Huber
Re-Election Candidate for Assembly
District 10 (Sacramento, San Joaquin)
Assemblywoman Alyson Huber is running for re-election for District 10 which serves Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento, and San Joaquin counties including the cities of Lodi, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Stockton, and Jackson. Assemblywoman Huber was elected to the State Assembly in 2008 in a hard fought race that had the odds stacked against her.
Raised in Lodi, Alyson graduated from Lodi High School before attending San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. Because of her national success on the debate team she received a scholarship to California State University, Chico. After state budget cuts threatened to dismantle Chico’s speech and debate team, Alyson transferred to Cornell University where she received her Bachelor of Science with honors. She came back to California and received her law degree from the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law.
Alyson is living proof that the American dream is alive and well. Overcoming family hardships as a child, she worked hard to put herself through school and was the first of her family to graduate from college. She has made a life-long commitment to community and public service, including advocating on behalf the Junior Leagues of California for legislation designed to reform our foster care system. She also serves the community by working with the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations to promote justice and equality within our legal system. Alyson has served as a volunteer advocate for the indigent, at-risk youth and those with serious life-threatening illnesses who otherwise could not afford to seek legal advice.
Although new to politics, Alyson believes that common sense solutions can help us tackle many of the problems facing our state. As a business lawyer she understands the pressures facing business in our state, and as a working mother she understands the pressures that families face every day. Her knowledge of the district and her unique resume make her a strong Democratic candidate for the 10th Assembly District.
Currently, Assemblywoman Huber lives in District 10 in the city of El Dorado Hills with her husband, Tim and two of their four children. They have two children in college.
Susan Bonilla
Candidate for Assembly
District 11 (Contra Costa)
Susan A. Bonilla is a candidate for Assembly District 11 and serves as the Contra Costa County Supervisor for District IV since January 2007. She was previously elected to the Concord City Council in 2002, serving as Vice Mayor in 2005 and Mayor in 2006.
In her time on the Concord City Council, she initiated the Literacy Coalition which serves as a network of literacy providers dedicated to raising the awareness of literacy needs and mobilizing volunteers to meet these needs. In 2006, Susan, as Mayor of Concord, organized and led the local coalition in negotiations and discussions with the Department of the Navy regarding the reuse of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
On January 6, 2009, Susan was elected as Chair of the Board of Supervisors, by her colleagues, for 2009. Among Susan’s priorities as Chair will be to work with her colleagues to protect and enrich the quality of life for the people, neighborhoods, and diverse communities of Contra Costa County. She will work with the Board of Supervisors to help Contra Costa County meet its core purpose by maintaining safe and caring communities, practicing environmental stewardship, creating a culture of engagement, and supporting healthy economies. In order to meet these goals, Susan believes the county budget must be a plan that matches projected revenue with projected expenditures in order to support the organization’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives.
Susan has been a resident of Concord since 1989. Her community participation has included many years with the neighborhood swim team, AYSO soccer, and involvement with parent-faculty clubs. She has worked in various capacities in the Mt Diablo Unified School District as a teacher in the Gifted and Talented Program, as a teacher of English as a Second Language in the adult program and as an English teacher at Concord High School.
Yoriko Kishimoto
Candidate for Assembly
District 21 (Palo Alto, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties)
Yoriko Kishimoto, candidate for Assembly in District 21, is former Mayor of Palo Alto and the first Asian elected to the Palo Alto City Council. Yorikos call to action as as Mayor and on her two terms as council woman has been to Build a Green Economy through Innovation.
Yoriko was born in Japan, earned her Stanford MBA and worked for 20 years consulting to technology entrepreneurs from both sides of the Pacific. She is an internationally published author of The Third Century: Asia’s Resurgence in the Asian Era, a book that foretold the rise of California as a world-nation where we are all minorities and spoke of America as deriving its strengths from its open economic and social systems and the robustness of our democracy.
During her service on the Palo Alto City Council, she led the city and worked with our neighboring cities and Stanford University to initiate and promote green economy initiatives. These ranged from promoting cleantech and clean energy businesses, walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, zero waste, green building ordinances, community buses, farmers markets, and other measures to allow our creative economy to grow in a healthy way without a net impact on greenhouse gas emissions, traffic, or other adverse impacts on our natural environment.
Yoriko serves on the Board of Directors for Santa Clara Countys Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) that oversees clean air regulations for the nine counties. She is Chair of the Climate Protection Committee of BAAQMD and serves on the Joint Policy Committee which coordinates the four regional agencies response to the top issues facing the Bay Area.
Nora Campos
Candidate for Assembly
District 23 (San José)
Nora Campos is a candidate for Assembly in District 23 and currently services as a San José councilmember. First elected to the San José City Council in a special election in March 2001, Councilmember Nora Campos has twice been overwhelmingly re-elected to represent the 97,000 residents of District Five in East San José. Building strong and safe neighborhoods, supporting and promoting vibrant business districts and increasing the availability of and access to affordable housing have been the continued vision of Councilmember Campos.
Believing strong, equitable neighborhoods are the foundation to great, sustainable cities, the Councilmember has worked hard to bring state-of-the-art facilities and quality infrastructure to the community. Residents enjoy the new Dr. Roberto Cruz Alum Rock and Hillview libraries and young people play safely at the youth-designed Plata Arroyo Skate Park and Alum Rock Youth Center. Additional street lights and an upgraded sanitary sewer system have also improved the quality of life for all residents.
During the FY 08-09 budget process, Councilmember Campos fought to ensure that public safety remains our city’s priority. Residents of the City of San José will benefit from 25 additional police officers patrolling their streets, protecting their children and keeping their neighborhoods, their parks and their schools safe. Councilmember Campos also succeeded in adding over $700,000 to combat gang violence and provide invaluable after school and summer programs to at-risk youth. The approved $1 million increase in funding for gang intervention and prevention services provided by community-based organizations will also provide ongoing funding to keep youth centers around the city open late on Friday and Saturday nights.
Fran Florez
Candidate for Assembly
District 30 (Fresno, Kern)
Fran Florez is a candidate for Assembly in District 30 and currently is the Vice Chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority, the state agency responsible for planning, building and operating a high-speed train system for the State of California. She was elected to the Shafter City Council in 1996, 2000 & 2004 served two terms as Mayor, and Mayor Pro Tem. She served as past chair of the Community Development Agency and Joint Powers Authority for the City of Shafter.
Fran is active in the community serving as past president of the Shafter Chamber of Commerce and the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Fran retired from the banking industry after 35 years, continued working in the Community as the liaison for PG&E’s Contribution Program for Kern County and also worked for Mission Bank as a Business Development consultant. She serves on the Bakersfield College Foundation Board, chaired the High Speed Rail Authority in 2005, and served as Vice President of the Kern County Association of Cities, Vice Chair of the Kern Council of Governments, and served on the San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council.
In her years as a council member and Mayor, Fran made it a priority to make sure that the City grew and maintained healthy reserves enabling the City to continue to provide outstanding service to its residents. City growth brought many jobs to the region. Fran has received recognition for her work on the city council and received the Distinguished Leadership Award for Public Service from the Kern Council of Governments, and received the Woman of the Year award from the Democratic Central Committee of Kern County.
Fran and her husband Ray have two grown children and three grandchildren.
Hilda Zacarias
Candidate for Assembly
District 33 (Nava)
Hilda Zacarías is a candidate for Assembly District 33 and was elected to the Santa Maria City Council in 2006. Her previous public office experience included the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees, 1993-1998; Santa Barbara County Commissioner: Affirmative Action, 1991-1993 and the Women’s Commission, 1999-2000; and she served on the Santa Barbara County Children & Families Commission Leadership Team.
Councilmember Zacarías was born in McAllen, Texas; her family came to Santa Maria in the early 1960’s when she was a toddler. She attended local elementary schools and graduated from Santa Maria High School, Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo in Business with an emphasis in accounting. Councilmember Zacarías recently completed her Masters in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which she attended as a Harvard Presidential Scholar Fellow. Upon graduation she received the prestigious Littauer Fellow Award for academic excellence and service to the Kennedy School Community.
Councilmember Zacarías owned and operated an accounting and tax firm for 12 years in Santa Maria, as well as worked as an auditor of non-profits for a Santa Barbara-based CPA firm. She has been an educator, teaching taxation and accounting at Cal Poly, “The Business of Family Day Care” at Allan Hancock College, and self-employment training for women through Women’s Economic Ventures. She served on the Board of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was recognized as the Hispanic Businessperson of the Year.
Since 1999, Councilmember Zacarías has limited her practice to non-profits, governments, and other community based organizations and has expanded from her financial and accounting services into other areas of management, including fund development.
Susan Jordan
Candidate for Assembly
District 35 (Santa Barbara, Ventura)
Susan Jordan is running for the assembly seat in District 35 which represents Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. A long time community activist, Susan’s primary focus is on the environment, health care and energy. Her service to the community spans over 14 years of professional experience in political and commercial market research, consulting and strategic business development.
As Founder and Executive Director of California Coastal Protection Network, Susan is active on a large scale in helping to set precedent for coastal development projects. She has also worked with environmental non-profits including NRDC and the Sierra Club. Susan’s accomplishments at CCPN include sponsoring legislation for regulation for coastal land use, the defeat of BHP Billiton’s proposal to build a Liquefied Natural Gas site, and the defeat of the Trans Corridor Authority’s proposal to build a private toll road through San Onofre State Beach Park in San Diego.
Before moving to California in 1994, Susan worked in New York for 16 years as an advocate for women’s health care and reproductive rights. As a volunteer for the National Women’s Health Network, Susan served as the Chari of the Barrier Methods Committee and spear headed a 7 year campaign to gain FDA approval for the Prentif Cavity Rim Cervical Cap – a barrier method of birth control still in distribution today. She was an active member of the Women’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C. helping to create and implement community relations programs for women’s reproductive health.
Susan has won many awards including the Environment Now Wells Family Award for Coastal Protection, the Earth Charter and Ventura Chapter Ecological Integrity Award, and the Environmental Defense Center’s Environmental Hero Award. She is also the Co-Founder of Vote the Coast and a former chair of the Santa Barbara Planning Commission. Currently, she is an active member of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee and a Board Member of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Susan holds a Masters of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.
Maggie Campbell
Candidate for Assembly
District 36 (Lancaster, Palmdale)
Maggie Campbell is a candidate for Assembly District 36 and is currently a California Democratic Delegate in her district serving a term from April 2009 through January 2011.
With a diverse background in the legal and real estate industries; Evangelical Ministry and service in the United States Navy; Maggie is prepared to use her experience and expertise to aid in her success as Assembly Representative for the 36th District.
She began her career in politics as a volunteer for the Democratic Party Presidential race as a teen under the direction of her mother. She went on to volunteer through the years as a Democrat in California including on campaigns of: Mayors, Senators and Congress races. She performed services as a poll worker and participated in student government in high school and college. In later years, she sought the office of City Council Member as a ‘write-in’ candidate in the 2004/2005 election, where she received considerable support from the voters and the surrounding communities.She is confident, dedicated, hardworking, and aware of the issues that affect our communities. Maggie is very passionate about public policy.
Maggie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University and a Professional Paralegal Certification from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on Contract Law, Civil Litigation, Real Estate and Tenancy. Shortly after graduating from both Universities, she embarked upon a successful career as an entrepreneur in the Legal Industry as a Certified Paralegal and Notary Public, where she assisted attorneys and certified paralegal candidates to secure employment. She serviced the public with paralegal and legal documentation services as well. She went on to open a real estate and mortgage corporation after earning her licenses as a Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker.
Linda Jones
Candidate for Assembly
District 36 (Los Angeles, San Bernardino)
Linda Jones is a candidate for Assembly in District 36 and is the immediate past president of the board of trustees for Westside Union School District. A very active member of the Antelope Valley community, Linda also serves as the 3rd Vice president of the Antelope Valley School Boards Association, President of High Desert Alliance of Black School Educators, member of the Lancaster Alumnae chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and the Plan committee Chair for the Antelope Valley Community Labor Coalition. Linda notes that her most fulfilling community service is working as campus advisor to the Highland High school Jr. Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and the Robotics team in addition to being a mentor, drill sergeant and shoulder to cry on for many of her students.
Linda started her professional life as a licensed vocational nurse in the San Fernando Valley. For over 15 years, she rendered comfort and provided hope for patients on the difficult road to recovery. As a parent, her nature compelled her to get involved in her children’s education. She immersed herself in details that most parents took for granted. She learned how education worked and doesn’t work. Her curiosity about how schools functioned took her insight to a new level. She grew to respect the behind-the-scenes aspects of government, sometimes called politics. After receiving her B.A. degree in Urban Studies with an emphasis in community development, her skills were recognized by California State Assemblyman Richard Katz, who asked her to become one of his legislative field representatives. She served Assemblyman Katz with distinction for 2 years before moving to the Antelope Valley.
Voters, community groups, congregations and temples in Katz’s district respected Linda for her skilled service, her empathy and her responsiveness to hear their concerns. In 2008, Linda was the recipient of the Athena Award, sponsored by the Zonta Club of the Antelope Valley. In 2006, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Farwest Region honored Linda at “Delta Days at the Capital” with a service award. In 2007, she received the Antelope Valley Union High School District Special Service Award, and the Lockheed Martin Black History Celebration Committee Outstanding Community Service Award. In 1992, Linda was awarded a certificate of Appreciation by City of Los Angeles, Mayor Tom Bradley for her outstanding efforts during the civil unrest of April and May of 1992. That same year she was recognized by the Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee for her devoted and invaluable services for educational equality and political leadership.
Linda has taught special education for 11 years in the Antelope Valley and after teaching both resource and special day classes, she decided to earn a Masters of Arts in Special Education. She found her political gifts useful in serving her schools, her students and parents, as well as her community. Linda currently lives with her husband Robert and together they have four daughters and three grandchildren.
Nayiri Nahabedian
Candidate for Assembly
District 43 (Los Angeles, Glendale)
Nayiri Nahabedian is running for Assembly in District 43 in the special election to fill the seat vacated by Paul Krekorian. Nayiri is and currently is a board member of the highly regarded Glendale Unified School District, where she has served since 2007.
Nayiri worked in the central and south Los Angeles areas where she helped struggling families recover from physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and drug addiction. Since 2000, Nayiri has been a teaching faculty member at California State University, Los Angeles’ School of Social Work, where she teaches courses on child welfare, public policy, and social service. She helps lead a School District with a $200 million operating budget and 2800 employees over 30 schools, which despite severe state budget cuts has avoided any teacher layoffs. The district is well known for innovative education programs such as a newly expanded “Foreign Language Academy,” that offers immersion classes in many foreign languages.
Nayiri has previously served as the vice-chair of the Commission on the Status of Women for the City of Glendale (2004-2007), the co-chair of Community Action Against Bullying (2005-2007), the chair of the Forum for Armenian Cultural and Social Studies, the co-chair for Californians for a New Century Alliance (2000-2001), and as an executive Board Member for the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley.
Nayiri attended Glendale Community College, where she was part of the Scholars Program, and later transferred to UCLA, where she earned a Bachelor’s in psychology and a Master’s in Social Welfare. She also founded numerous community programs and organizations, including the Generation Next Mentorship Program, focused on providing mentorship to at risk youth in Glendale middle schools.
Holly Mitchell
Candidate for Assembly
District 47 (Los Angeles, Westwood)
Holly J. Mitchell is a candidate for assembly in District 47 that is held by Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass who will be termed out in 2010. Currently, Holly is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Crystal Stairs, an advocacy organization championing child care policymaking throughout the state. Holly’s public policy expertise has enabled Crystal Stairs to increase its voice throughout the state. As the CEO of Crystal Stairs, Holly has been invited by various members of the California Legislature to provide expert testimony before policy and budget committees.
Holly’s public advocacy career began in the office of former State Senator Diane Watson, where she advised members of the legislature on issues related to quality child care as a policy analyst for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Before joining Crystal Stairs, Holly was a Legislative Advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty where she coordinated with other advocates on health policy issues affecting low-income communities. Prior to this, she was the Executive Director of the California Black Women’s Health Project where she interfaced with community-based agencies, policy makers, government agencies, grant makers, and health care professionals on current trends and data on the status of women’s health.
Holly has received statewide honors and recognition from the National Women’s Political Caucus – Westside Chapter, the Los Angeles County Black Employees Association, and Black Women for Political Action (BWOPA), among others. In addition to her duties at Crystal Stairs, she has taken on numerous statewide leadership roles including Chair of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network’s Public Policy Committee and Chair of the California State Commission on the Status of Women. Presently, Holly in the Vice Chair of the City of Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families.
Carmen Avalos
Candidate for Assembly
District 50 (Los Angeles, Bell)
Carmen Avalos is a candidate for Assembly in District 50 and she was elected South Gate’s City Clerk in March 2001. Carmen was also elected in November 2005 to the Cerritos College Board as a Trustee. She is the only woman on the Cerritos College Board.
After earning her teaching credential from CSU Dominguez Hills, Carmen taught for five years at South Gate High School. In 2000, Carmen was compelled to public service from her observations of the South Gate community and was encouraged to run for office by her 9th grade students. Elected to the City Clerk position, Carmen vowed to help clean up the corruption at city hall. In 202 Carmen’s efforts were recognized by Senator Martha Escutia as “Woman of the Year” and received the same honor from Assemblymember Marco Antonio Firebaugh the same year.
She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico, immigrating to South Gate, California at the young age of 2 years and grew up in a working class family in South Gate. Carmen is the mother of six children which has fostered her desire to give back to the community and is a champion for education and equality.
Kate Anderson
Candidate for Assembly
District 53 (Los Angeles, Venice)
Kate Anderson is a candidate for Assembly District 53 and is currently an elected member of the Mar Vista Community Council and the Hilltop Neighbors Association. She is also a former board member for the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and a current member of the Los Angeles County Child Care Planning Committee.
Kate attended UCLA and immediately became involved in UCLA’s main charity UniCamp, local Democratic Party politics, and student government. She was eventually elected Student Body President at UCLA. Her interest in bettering her community through government service led her to spend her final year in Washington DC working for Congressman Henry Waxman. Originally scheduled just to be a Fall intern, Congressman Waxman offered her a full-time job. Two years later, Kate left the position to attend the University of Chicago Law School and studied under Cass Sunstein.
She became a member of the Law Review and graduated with High Honors. After one year clerking for Chief Judge Harry Edwards of the DC Circuit Court, then returned to Capitol Hill and Congressman Waxman’s tutelage. As a Counsel on Waxman’s Government Reform and Oversight Committee, Kate got to see first-hand the impact government could have in improving people’s lives. Her work on the Committee varied widely and included everything from elections issues to nursing homes to postal reform. She initiated, researched, and wrote a major study on voting irregularities in the 2000 election. Kate also worked extensively on investigations into nursing home care helping to shed light on abuses in nursing homes around the country.
Kate is married and with her husband Peter they are the proud parents of twin girls, Darby and Emeline. They live in Mar Vista where she currently practices law with the firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP.
Betsy Butler
Candidate for Assembly
District 53 (Los Angeles, Venice)
Betsy Butler is a candidate for the 53rd Assembly District and is presently the Director of Development for the Consumer Attorneys of California. A long time organizer and activist, Betsy has fought for working families and healthy communities at the local, state and national level.
A current board member of Equality California and a former president of the National Women’s Political Caucus (LA Westside Chapter), Betsy remains committed to fighting for equality and fairness for all and has been actively working to elect progressive leaders for decades. In 2006, then-Congresswoman Hilda Solis recognized Betsy for her activism and commitment to working families at the Congresswoman’s annual leadership luncheon.
Betsy’s commitment to public service was solidified during her years in college as an intern for Assemblymember Lucy Killea, U.S. Senator Alan Cranston and Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy. After graduation, Betsy was a field representative for Lt. Governor McCarthy where she served as a community liaison in 29 cities across Los Angeles and coordinated public policy outreach regarding a wide range of issues including economic development, international trade and green technology investment as well as elder care and environmental protection matters.
Betsy also served in the Clinton administration at the Department of Commerce in the International Trade Administration where she worked on the trade policy priorities of the early 1990’s including the Uruguay Round and WTO transformation matters, intellectual property rights and trade development. At the California League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Defense Fund, Betsy helped create and solidify communities of support for strategic environmental movements including carbon emission standard changes, water conservation and habitat protection policies.
A resident of the Marina del Rey and South Bay area of Los Angeles for nearly twenty years, Betsy is active in local grassroots groups promoting green and responsible development in her neighborhood. Born in Sacramento, Betsy graduated from San Diego State University and from the Executive Program in Management at UCLA.
Monica Garcia
Candidate for Assembly
District 57 (Baldwin Park, Covina)
Councilmember Monica Garcia is running for Assembly in District 57 to represent the 57th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, La Puente, West Covina, Irwindale, Industry, and other unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. As a councilmember, she has led the efforts to go after $8 million in federal stimulus dollars, nearly doubling what the City would have been eligible to receive. Monica has fought for greater economic opportunities for residents by pushing for and passing a local hiring ordinance, summer youth employment program and bringing green jobs to the City.
In 2001, Monica served as a Field Deputy to State Senator Gloria Romero where she was responsible for issues pertaining to women, children and families. In 2002, the Baldwin Park City Council appointed Monica to the planning commission where she served as Co-Chair and Chair. In this role, she helped bring better businesses and more jobs to the City. Between 2003 and 2006, Monica served as a Deputy for the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor’s Office. Among her accomplishments, she worked diligently with community activists and city departments toward the creation of an environmentally friendly dog park along the Arroyo Seco. She also worked toward the completion of a concrete skate park and additional park improvements with an estimated cost of 1.4 million dollars. She also coordinated special events such as “Days of Service” and “National Night Out,” which brought out 500-1000 constituents, on each occasion, to help make a difference in their community.
Throughout her career, Monica has been a common sense problem‐solver, another trait she learned from her family. Despite the budget mess in Sacramento, Monica helped balance the City’s budget by making city services more efficient without sacrificing quality or jobs.
Prior to being on the City Council, Monica was appointed to the Baldwin Park Planning Commission, shepherding local economic growth and job opportunities. Monica has dedicated herself to public service at the local and state level where she has served as a planning deputy, policy analyst and a State Senate field deputy. She has consistently been responsible for policy involving women, children, education and families.
Monica has lived nearly her entire life in Baldwin Park, the city she and her family have called home for more than 30 years. She attended Baldwin Park public schools, including Tracy Elementary, Holland Jr. High and graduated from Baldwin Park High School. She worked her way through college, attending Mt. San Antonio Community College before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in business administration from the University of Southern California.
Melissa Fox
Candidate for Assembly
District 70 (Costa Mesa, Irvine)
Melissa Fox is a candidate for Assembly District 70 and is currently a small business attorney, a wife and mother, and a dedicated community leader. As a small business attorney for 17 years, Melissa respects the hard work and knows the problems of business owners – problems that have been intensified by the current economic crisis. As a member of the Assembly, Melissa will fight to reignite our Southern California economy and protect and grow the jobs we need.
Melissa was born in Garden Grove and raised in Westminster. Her mother was a registered nurse and a librarian and her father was a police officer and later a compliance officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is also a Korean War combat veteran.
Melissa attended the Hebrew Academy, where she graduated as valedictorian, and then went to Brandeis University and Tulane University Law School. After law school, she returned to Orange County, where for the last 17 years she has specialized in providing legal counsel to small businesses. Melissa is ready to bring to government a much needed breath of fresh air, new ideas, truth and openness — and will fight for real solutions with a passionate commitment to California’s future.
As a volunteer Ranger with the Orange County Parks Department who trained with the Orange County Sheriff and Fire Departments, Melissa knows the incredible commitment and dedication to duty of Orange County’s public safety officers. She is just as dedicated to fighting for those who protect us. As a member of the Assembly, Melissa will fight for our sheriffs, firefighters and public safety officers and fight to keep them on the job. Melissa is also a camper, hiker, and advocate for new green jobs and new sources of energy, knows the need for responsible stewardship of our land, water and air — not only for all the recreational opportunities we enjoy, but also for our economic well-being now and in the future. As a member of the Assembly, Melissa will fight for new local green jobs, the development of new cleaner sources of energy, and responsible stewardship of our natural resources.
Melissa lives in Lake Forest with her husband, Michael, a college teacher, and their son, Max. As a working mom, Melissa knows the pressures of raising a family, especially in a hard-hit economy. Melissa is dedicated to the fight for children and families, especially in education and will continue her commitment if elected to the assembly.
Crystal Crawford
Candidate for Assembly
District 74 (Carlsbad, Del Mar)
Mayor Crystal Crawford is a candidate for Assembly in District 74 that serves the communities in San Diego County including Carlsbad and Del Mar. She currently is the Mayor of Del Mar and serves on the City Council, a position she has held for over ten years. She grew up in a working class family that owned a small business in a small town in Louisiana. Her parents valued hard work and education and instilled those values in Crystal. She paid her own way through college and law school.
As a Councilmember, Mayor Crawford has served in many capacities on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). She is currently a SANDAG Board member and the North County Coastal Representative on the SANDAG Borders Committee. As the initial chair of the Borders Committee, she worked to expand our relationships with Riverside, Imperial and Orange Counties and to improve SANDAG’s relationships across the international border. She is also the regional representative on the California Biodiversity Council and served for ten years on the San Dieguito River Valley JPA.
Mayor Crawford is licensed to practice law in California, Washington and Louisiana and also works as a general counsel to Molsoft LLC, a privately held biotech company in La Jolla, California. She is running for the State Assembly because she wants to work toward assuring that every resident of the 74th District and the State of California has an opportunity to get a good education, enjoy rewarding employment, and have access to health care. As a two time cancer survivor, she understands the importance of reliable and affordable health care.
Mayor Crawford came to San Diego from her home state of Louisiana to study law at the University of San Diego and soon decided this would be her home. She has lived in the 74th District since 1992. Her enthusiasm for civic affairs and involvement is matched by an equally avid love of animals and the great outdoors. She makes time in her busy work and civic schedule to hike our region’s beaches and canyons, practice yoga, and paddle competitively with an all-women Dragonboat team.
Toni Atkins
Candidate for Assembly
District 76 (San Diego, Clairemont)
Toni Atkins, candidate for Assembly in District 76 (San Diego), is a former councilmember in San Diego’s third city council district. Toni was elected to the City Council in 2000 after spending seven years on the staff of former councilmember Christine Kehoe, who is who serving as a Senator for District.
During her service on the council, Toni was committed to revitalizing the District 3 older neighborhoods, providing more affordable housing, preserving Balboa Park and making communities safe for residents. Using a variety of funds and working with local, state and federal officials, she has allocated millions of dollars for projects and programs that went to pave streets, fix sidewalks, install streetlights, plant trees and landscape medians. Toni tripled the number of miles of utility lines under-grounded in the District, and led the charge to push through the nation’s first Housing State of Emergency.
Councilmember Atkins has been recognized by groups throughout the country for her results and commitment. In 1997 she was named San Diego Lesbian & Gay Pride’s “Woman of the Year” and she received the “Outstanding Achievement in Affordable Housing and Community Development.” In 2001, Toni was presented with a Historic Preservation Award from the American Institute of Architects and the Co-Presidents Award by the Tom Homann Law Association. She was also named one of San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch in 2001.”
Councilmember Atkins is originally from Southwestern Virginia. She graduated from Emory & Henry College with a degree in political science with a focus on community organizing. A 17-year resident of Council District 3, she currently resides in South Park.
Pearl Quiñones
Candidate for Assembly
District 79 (Chula Vista, Coronado)
Pearl Quiñones is running for Assembly District 79, the seat currently held by Assemblymember Mary Salas who will be termed out in 2010. Pearl is currently the San Ysidro School Board President, was re-elected to her second term as a board member in 2004, and is employed by the San Ysidro School District as a dropout prevention specialist.
Recognizing Pearl’s commitment to families in the South Bay, Congressman Bob Filner presented her with a congressional award. She is Vice President of the Executive Board of Directors for the California Latino School Board Members Association, and also serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the Border View YMCA. Pearl is the first school board member ever to be selected for the executive board of NALEO. She has also been appointed Vice President of the Community Youth Athletic Center Executive Board, the first woman to ever serve on the board.
Pearl is dedicated to improving education and strongly advocates high student achievement. She served as vice president of the California School Employees Association and was appointed to the California Department of Education Dropout Prevention Board. Her commitment earned her a prestigious Tribute to Women in Industry award from the YWCA of San Diego.
A 22-year resident of National City, Pearl attended Southwestern College and graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. She has a California Community College Instructor lifetime credential, and she is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Education Administration at SDSU and a master’s in governance from CSBA.
