For the past few days I have been so disappointed that Hillary Clinton suspended her race for the Democratic presidential nominee.  I’ve gotten over my anger about how she was treated with a negative feminist spin, although it was very sexist at times and unnecessarily cruel in the portrayal of her character. Like 18 million other people, it’s an emotional time for me, but Hillary’s eloquent speech on Saturday was a perfect reflection of her dignity and grace.  This is why I still believe she would be a wonderful president and her campaign surely shows that a woman is capable of holding the highest office in America.

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With the April 15 income tax filing deadline past and the state now having a better sense of actual revenues for 2008-09, on May 14 the Governor released his revised state budget proposal based on a worsened projected shortfall of $17.2 billion, up $7.5 billion from January.
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SLOW DECLINE OF WOMEN LEGISLATORS CONTINUES

While the nation’s political attention has been focused on the Democratic presidential primary election, our Democratic women candidates here in California ran competitive campaigns in really difficult races AND won!  However, yesterday’s primary was a bittersweet victory.
 
The pendulum is swinging away from the great strides we made in the early 90’s to even the playing field in the California legislature.  Our dreams of equal representation for women are slowly declining.  The trend seems to be that we lose two to three elected women legislators every election cycle. Despite yesterday’s victories, we could potentially lose more women legislators in November.  Considering less than 28% of the California state seats are held by women, we must remain vigilant to maintain gender representation.
 
Congratulations to the candidates listed below for winning races that were among California’s most difficult and most important!  We also congratulate all the Democratic women candidates - up and down the ticket - who ran outstanding campaigns!  We appreciate all that you have done for Democrats and for women.

Lois Wolk (SD 5, Stockton, Yolo)
Loni Hancock (SD 9, Alameda, Oakland)
Hannah-Beth Jackson (SD 19, Santa Barbara)
Carol Liu (SD 21, Burbank)
Fran Pavley (SD 23, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica)
Mariko Yamada (AD 8, Yolo County)
Alyson Huber (AD 10, Sacramento, El Dorado)
Nancy Skinner (AD 14, Berkeley)
Joan Buchanan (AD 15, Oakland, East Bay)
Fran Florez (AD 30, Fresno, Kern)
Ferial Masry (AD 37, Thousand Oaks)
Bonnie Lowenthal (AD 54, Long Beach)
Diane Singer (AD 60, Orange, San Bernardino)
Norma Torres (AD 61, Pomona, Montclair)
Judy Jones (AD 73, Orange County, North San Diego) 

Congratulations to the following incumbents!  

Elaine Alquist (SD13, Santa Clarita)
Christine Kehoe (SD 39, San Diego)
Noreen Evans (AD 7, Napa)
Fiona Ma (AD 12, San Francisco)
Cathleen Galgiani (AD 17, Stockton)
Mary Hayashi (AD 18, Oakland)
Anna Caballero (AD 28, Salinas, Monterey County)
Julia Brownley (AD 41, Santa Monica)
Karen Bass (AD 47, Los Angeles)
Wilmer Amina Carter (AD 62, San Bernardino, Fontana)
Lori Saldana (AD 76, San Diego)
Mary Salas (AD 79, San Diego)

Thank you to all our members, donors and supporters. We successfully supported Democratic women candidates throughout California. We continue to make a difference, thanks to your continued support.
 
CALIFORNIA LIST believes that electing women legislators is important. The women we help elect are the women who will march into Sacramento as champions for universal health care, better education and as protectors of our natural resources.  These women are mothers, wives and workers who understand the issues their fellow women face in both the home and employment arenas.  This is why electing women matters and maintaining a sustainable pipeline of women moving up the ladder of elected offices is the only way to ensure enough women representatives will be seated.
 
CALIFORNIA LIST works to help identify strong women candidates to fill the pipeline and actively supports candidates with training, public relations and campaign finance.  Our local elections feed seasoned women into the state pipeline and each election cycle we are losing an average of two women elected. California is suffering a famine of women who can run and win.

BUILDING THE FARM TEAM OF ELECTED WOMEN  

CALIFORNIA LIST believes that building the pipeline of future leaders is a top priority.  One of the women I hope will run for higher office in California is City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, a candidate for Los Angeles City Controller. Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council. As a City Councilmember, she has focused much of her time on public safety, the environment, economic issues, transportation, and neighborhood services.

Wendy has two events scheduled that I thought you might be interested in attending.  

In  SAN FRANCISCO on Friday, June 6th from 12 noon to 1:30 pm  Kamala Harris and Andrea Dew Steele will hold a luncheon at the Bacar Restaurant and Wine Salon at 448 Brannan Street.  

In LOS ANGELES at the home of Carol Biondi on Tuesday, June 10th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Please RSVP to Mona Sanchez at (818) 715-1128.  

JOIN CALIFORNIA LIST TODAY! 

We need your help to increase the pipeline and reverse the decline of women electeds.  Visit our website to learn more about the benefits of CALIFORNIA LIST membership or to renew your membership.  Your membership can make a difference -join us today! 

The pendulum is swinging away from the great strides we made in the early 90’s to even the playing field in the California legislature. Our dreams of equal representation for women are slowly declining. The trend seems to be that we lose two to three elected women legislators every election cycle. Despite yesterday’s victories, we could potentially lose more women legislators in November. Considering less than 28% of the California state seats are held by women, we must remain vigilant to maintain gender representation. (more…)