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CANDIDATES FOR CALIFORNIA STATE OFFICE - 2008
CALIFORNIA LIST is looking for a few good women!
The 2006 election may be over but the good fight continues. CALIFORNIA LIST is looking ahead to 2008 when we might lose as many as seven women Democrats in the Assembly and one woman Democratic in the Senate as a result of term limits. Who will fill their seats when the time comes? Let’s reverse the trend of a decline in the number of women elected into positions in California state office by keeping the pipeline filled with viable, pro-choice Democratic women candidates.
The following list are Democratic women who have expressed interest in running in 2008.
You may contribute to endorsed candidates here or go to the candidates’ website.
For a Quick Reference chart click here.
SENATE
Lois Wolk
Candidate for Senate District 05
Counties: San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo, and portions of Sacramento
Current Position: Assemblywoman AD 8
Assembly Woman Lois Wolk earned her B.A. from Antioch College in 1968 and M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1971.
Elected to the California State Assembly in 2002, she successfully passed bills into law including legislation to establish uniform fines and penalties for failing to report or impede a mandated report of child and elder abuse; and legislation to mandate bank employees to report elder financial abuse to law enforcement. She founded the Bipartisan Group to work on bipartisan solutions to the state budget and political reform issues.
From 1998 to 2002, Wolk served Yolo County as County Supervisor from 1998 to 2002. As Supervisor, she chaired the First 5 Children and Families Commission and led several successful efforts in child protection. During her tenure she also successfully funded a new Juvenile Hall and Health Department.
Although a community activist for many years, Assemblywoman Wolk’s public service began in 1990 when she won a seat on the Davis City Council. She later served two terms as Mayor from 1992-1994 and 1996-1998. Lois Wolk will be forced to leave office in 2008 because of term limits.
Among Wolk’s numerous honors and awards are included the “Golden Pedigree” for integrity, trustworthiness, and personal ethics awarded by The California Journal, and recognition as one of the “Freshman Elite.” When she is termed out of the Assembly in 2008, Assemblywoman Lois Wolk is considering running for State Senator in the seat currently held by Michael Machado.
Campaign website: http://www.loiswolk.com
Loni Hancock
Candidate for Senate District 09
Counties: Alameda and Contra Costa including Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda
Current Position: Assemblywoman AD14
Assemblywoman Loni Hancock has spent over three decades in public service as a forceful advocate for open government, education, environmental protection, health care, economic development, and social justice. She is currently serving her third term representing California Assembly District 14.
She sits on the Committee on Rules and chairs the Subcommittee on Sexual Harassment and Violence Prevention. She is a member of the Committee on Education, the Committee on Housing and Community Development, the Budget Committee and the Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. Hancock is a dedicated advocate of education, health care, and the environment.
Strongly committed to campaign finance reform, she has introduced AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, providing full public financing for all statewide races in California. She is the first assembly member to launch a blog to better communicate with her constituents. Loni Hancock will be forced to leave office in 2008 because of term limits.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Loni Hancock headed the Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education. In 1986, Hancock was the first woman elected to Mayor of Berkeley, a post she served for two terms through 1994.
Campaign website: http://hancockforsenate.com/
Hannah-Beth Jackson
Candidate for Senate District 19
Counties: Includes Stevenson Ranch, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Ventura and Ojai
Hannah-Beth Jackson served six years in the California State Assembly, representing the 35th District, which encompasses portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. She is a tireless advocate for change, having authored more than 60 bills that were signed into law on issues including education, health care, environmental protection, financial privacy, crime victims, reproductive rights, domestic violence, childcare and protecting the rights of consumers. Jackson is an attorney and former prosecutor, who is a co-founder of a non-profit organization.
In the State Assembly, she served as Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Coastal Protection and Co-Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Title IX. Other leadership positions included serving as chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus and chair of the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.
Jackson was named Legislator of the Year by the Consumer Federation of California, the Congress of California Seniors and the California League of Conservation Voters, the National Organization for Women. Other awards include the “Guardian of the Coast Award” from Vote the Coast, the “Wetlands Recovery Award” and “Friend of the Coast Award” from the Wetlands Recovery Project.
Hannah-Beth currently resides in Santa Barbara with her husband Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge George Eskin. She has a daughter, two stepchildren and four grandchildren.
Campaign website: Meet Hannah-Beth
Carol Liu
Candidate for Senate District 21
Counties: Los Angeles County including Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Los Feliz, and Chinatown
Current Position: Former Assemblywoman, AD 44 - left due to term limits
In 2006, former Assemblywoman Carol Liu termed out of her position as representative of the 44th Assembly District in La Canada Flintridge and is now running for Senate of the 21st District. She served eight years on the La Canada Flintridge City Council, including two terms as Mayor.
Carol Liu was Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee ensuring that all Californians have access to quality higher education. She was named “Legislator of the Year” by both The California State Student Association and the University of California Alumni Associations.
Liu authored several key pieces of legislation which were signed into law such protection of foster children, domestic violence prevention, and a statewide groundwater quality monitoring system. Liu’s bills enabling seizure of gang members’ ill-gotten gains, protecting patients’ rights in nursing homes, and eliminating unnecessary reports by CalTrans were also signed into law.
Liu was recently elected Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and is an active member of the Women’s Legislative Caucus. She serves on the Executive Board of the Women’s Leadership Network, a nationwide, bipartisan coalition of women state legislators. Liu is also a member of California’s Seismic Safety Commission.
Campaign website: http://www.carolliu.net
Fran Pavley
Candidate for Senate District 23
Counties: Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, and West Hollywood and Ventura County including Oxnard
Current Position: former Assemblywoman, AD 41 - termed out in 2006
During her three terms in the California State Assembly, Fran Pavley became known as one of the most effective legislators in Sacramento. Serving with integrity and vision, the former Mayor of Agoura Hills and long-term public school teacher, had over 70 of her bills and resolutions become law before she was termed out of the Assembly in 2006.
Ten other states and Canada have modeled their laws after Fran’s Clean Car Regulations, AB 1493, also known as the Pavley Bill. As the author of the “Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006,” AB 32, Pavley put a cap on greenhouse gas emissions emitted from California.
Prior to serving in the State Legislature, Fran Pavley served as a Mayor and Councilmember for four terms, focusing on protecting the quality of life for her community. In order to become a more effective elected official and to better prepare herself to make sound land use decisions, Fran returned to college and earned a Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning.
She was selected as one of Scientific American’s Top Technology Leaders in Transportation and received the 2006 California League of Conservation Voters “Global Warming Leadership Award” along with former Vice President Al Gore.
Campaign website: http://www.franpavley.org
ASSEMBLY
Mariko Yamada
Candidate for Assembly District 08
Counties: Solano, Yolo
Current Position: Supervisor, Yolo County Board of Supervisors 4th District
On October 31, 2003, Mariko Yamada was appointed Fourth District Yolo County Supervisor. Mariko then faced an immediate election challenge to retain her seat. On March 2, 2004, she won her first bid for elective office by a margin of 65.4%. On January 3, 2005, Mariko was sworn in to her first term.
In June 1972, she became the first person in her family to graduate from college, earning an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with an emphasis on the mental health of Asian Americans.
In June 1974, Mariko earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California, specializing in community organizing, planning, and administration.
Mariko’s experience includes eight years in federal service in Washington, D.C. — four years with the U.S Census Bureau as one of twelve national staff working in the 1980 undercount reduction “campaign,” and four years as an investigator with the Office of the Secretary, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Commerce, where she specialized in the immediate pre-Anita Hill era of sensitive sexual harassment investigations.
Among Mariko’s top priorities as a social worker and a county supervisor are improvements to in-home supportive services, emergency medical care, housing, transportation, and integrated services for adults, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Campaign website: http://marikoyamada.net
Alyson Huber
Candidate for Assembly District 10
Counties: Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties
Alyson Huber is an attorney who currently resides in El Dorado Hills and practices litigation and intellectual property law. Although new to politics, Huber believes being a lawyer and working mother gives her first hand knowledge of the pressures businesses and families face every day.
As the first in her family to graduate from college, Huber has made a life-long commitment to community and public service. She has been an advocate for the Junior League of California working to design legislation to reform California’s foster care system.
Huber serves on the Conference of Delegates for the California Bar Association that promotes justice and equality within our legal system. Huber has also served as a legal advocate for indigent, at-risk youth and offers counsel to those with life-threatening illnesses who could not otherwise afford legal advice.
Huber attended Lodi High School, is a graduate of Cornell University and received her law degree from Hastings College of Law. Huber is married and the mother of four children.
Campaign website: http://www.alysonhuber.com
Nancy Skinner
Candidate for Assembly District 14
Counties: Albany, Berkeley, Canyon, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Kensington, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo
In March 2006 Nancy Skinner was unanimously appointed by the Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District to fill the seat of long time Park Director Jean Siri. Since joining the Board, Nancy has worked to ensure that Eastshore Park is fully open for public use, that the Eastbay portion of the Bay Trail is completed and that funding is maintained for open space acquisition and increased recreational opportunities.
Nancy’s educational and professional life has been dedicated to environmental conservation and community sustainability. Earning first a BA degree and later her MS degree at UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources, Nancy taught courses in native California plants and interned as a naturalist at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Nancy is a former Berkeley City Councilwoman and served 8 years on the on the Council from 1984 to 1992. Running on a platform of waterfront protection and waste reduction through recycling, she helped lead the effort to preserve Berkeley’s waterfront that later resulted in the establishment of the Eastshore State Park. As a Councilmember, Nancy also introduced Berkeley’s groundbreaking laws to ban the use of styrofoam in fast food outlets and to stop the sale of chemicals that were destroying our ozone layer.
In the 1990’s Nancy founded a non-profit organization, ICLEI, dedicated to helping cities become environmental leaders. At ICLEI she worked with nearly 500 local governments worldwide to stop climate change and limit the emissions causing global warming.
A longtime community activist, Nancy served as a board member of Berkeley’s local chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus where she championed women candidates and worked to protect women’s reproductive rights.
Joan Buchanan
Candidate for Assembly District 15
Counties: Livermore, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, a portion of Pleasanton, Galt and portions of Stockton and Elk Grove
As a soccer coach and public school parent, Joan Buchanan knew first-hand the kind of help schools needed. Her nearly 20-year service on the San Ramon Valley School Board includes 4 terms as president. Under Joan’s leadership, the district took a new direction. Over 94% of the district’s graduating seniors attend college or university. And, despite being severely underfunded, SRVUSD has received state and national recognition for student achievement. SRVUSD now ranks among the top 5% of all school districts in California.
Joan’s expertise in budgeting and organizational development has served the community well. She led successful negotiations with both teachers and developers and she created the District’s trust that protects retirement benefits. As Vice-President of the Childcare Alliance she helped bring school-age childcare to San Ramon elementary schools; she successfully chaired the 1994 “No on Vouchers” campaign to protect public school funds; and as PTA President at Alamo Elementary, Joan created a coalition that raised money to build a much needed outdoor theater.
Joan has received numerous recognitions including the California Teachers Association State Gold Award and the Alamo Rotary Club Citizen of the Year. Joan is a 25-year resident of Alamo.
Campaign website: http://www.joanbuchanan.com
Fran Florez
Candidate for Assembly District 30
Counties: Kings County, portions of Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties
Current Position: Mayor Pro Tem of Shafter, California
Fran Florez 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 and has served two terms as mayor and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. She served as past chair of the Community Development Agency and Joint Powers Authority.
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 and formed Florez & Florez Consulting. She serves on various boards including the Bakersfield College Foundation Board, Vice president of the Kern County Association of Cities, vice chair of the Kern Council of Governments and chaired the High Speed Rail Authority in 2005.
In her years as a council member and Mayor, Fran has made it a priority to make sure that the City can grow and maintain healthy reserves enabling the City to continue to provide outstanding service to it’s residents. City growth has brought over 1000 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. Most recently she 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.
Bonnie Lowenthal
Candidate for Assembly District 54
Counties: Avalon, Long Beach (Belmont Shore, Naples), Los Angeles (San Pedro, Terminal Island), Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates
Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal was elected to represent the First District of the City of Long Beach in 2001, filling the unexpired term of Jenny Oropeza. In April of 2002, she ran unopposed in her bid to continue serving the residents of the First District. In April 2006, she easily won reelection to the First District. She was selected by her peers on the City Council as Vice Mayor in July 2006. Prior to her election to the City Council, Bonnie served on the Long Beach Unified Board of Education. She won election to that board in 1994 and 1998.
Bonnie is strongly committed to ensuring that the interests of public safety, economic development, environmental protection, healthy and safe neighborhoods, more parks and green space, and historic preservation. She currently chairs the City Council’s Housing and Neighborhoods Committee and Elections Oversight Committee, is a member of the 710 Freeway Oversight Committee, she sits on the State Legislation Committee, and she serves on the Personnel and Civil Service Committee and Tidelands and Harbor Committee.
Among her many honors Bonnie was presented with CentroCHA (Community Hispanic Organization) Education Award for her longstanding efforts on behalf of the Hispanic community, and the Interfaith Community Organization’s Housing Hero Award in recognition of her advocacy on behalf of those in need of housing. Awarded the Environmental Hero Award by Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Long Beach Organic, Lowenthal has been a strong voice for the environment.
As a mother of 2 and proud grandmother, Bonnie believes strongly in community activism, and she has served on the boards of many Long Beach organizations, including the International City Theatre Board of Directors, Creative Options Youth Commission Board of Advisors, California State University at Long Beach (CSULB) Social Work Community Advisory Committee, and the Long Beach Police Chief’s Asian Advisory Committee. She also served as vice chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness in 1987-88 and initiated the City’s ongoing Homeless Advisory Commission.
Bonnie received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s of Science in Community and Clinical Psychology from CSULB. Since 1975, Lowenthal has been a licensed family counselor and mental health consultant.
Campaign website: http://www.bonnielowenthal.com
Norma Torres
Candidate for Assembly District 61
Counties: Pomona, Montclair, Ontario, Chino
Current Position: Mayor Pomona
Norma Torres was sworn in as the City of Pomona’s first Latina Mayor on February 6, 2006 stating “Without the trust of Pomona’s constituents, I would not be able to have this great opportunity to make changes in the City.” Prior to being elected to serve as Mayor, Norma was elected to serve a second term as Councilmember for District 6 in November 2004.
Serving as Councilmember since 2000, Norma spearheaded various initiatives and projects to combat crime and improve the quality of life in Pomona. She helped form the Neighbors for Pomona Committee, which is dedicated to reducing crime and other vices in Pomona neighborhoods. Norma has also been instrumental in advocating an initiative to reduce the number of sex offenders living in the Pomona community.
Norma began her active role in city government while working with the Los Angeles Police Department as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher. After experiencing a tragic 9-1-1 call, Norma worked with the Los Angeles City Council to improve the quality of services provided to non-English speakers by including a bilingual staff.
Along with her role as Mayor, Norma actively serves on the Board of the Pomona Valley Transportation Authority, Tri-City Mental Health Board, Fairplex Blue Ribbon Committee, and is the elected Treasurer for the Executive Committee of National Conference of Democratic Mayors.
Norma was born in Guatemala, Central America and arrived in the United States at age five. Norma and her husband, Louis, have been married for 20 years and are raising their raise three boys.
Campaign website: http://www.normatorres.com
CANDIDATES RUNNING - QUICK REFERENCE
| LEGISLATOR | DISTRICT | COUNTIES | PARTY | WEBSITE |
| Lois Wolk | SD 5 | San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo, portions of Sacramento | D | |
| Loni Hancock | SD 9 | Alameda and Contra Costa including Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda | D | Website |
| Hannah Beth Jackson | SD 19 | Stevenson Ranch, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Ventura and Ojai | D | Website |
| Carol Liu | SD 21 | Los Angeles County including Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Los Feliz, and Chinatown | D | Website |
| Fran Pavley | SD 23 | Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, and West Hollywood and Ventura County including Oxnard | D | Website |
| Mariko Yamada | AD 8 | Solano, Yolo | D | Website |
| Alyson Huber | AD 10 | Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin | D | Website |
| Nancy Skinner | AD 14 | Albany, Berkeley, Canyon, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Kensington, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo | D | |
| Joan Buchanan | AD 15 | Livermore, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, a portion of Pleasanton, Galt and portions of Stockton and Elk Grove | D | Website |
| Fran Florez | AD 30 | Kings County, portions of Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties | D | |
| Bonnie Lowenthal | AD 54 | Avalon, Long Beach (Belmont Shore, Naples), Los Angeles (San Pedro, Terminal Island), Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates | D | Website |
| Norma Torres | AD 61 | Pomona, Montclair, Ontario, Chino | D | Website |
