Candidate for
Member, Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of Los Angeles; Assembly District 59

After earning my BA and MA in English literature, I served for 2 years in the U.S. Army Security Agency (communications security and intelligence).

I then served for 20 years in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, where I held a variety of managerial and analytical positions, eventually becoming Principal Welfare Fiscal Analyst. While working full time, I attended graduate school at night and earned an M.S. in Public Administration. My final 5 years of service with L.A. County government was as Principal Analyst to the Citizens Economy and Efficiency Commission, developing recommendations on County organization and operations for the Board of Supervisors.

Upon retirement from the County, I obtained my insurance license and securities registration, and I became a financial advisor for 6 years, primarily serving my fellow retirees.

During my County service, I voted faithfully for Democratic candidates but was inhibited in further political participation by Federal, State and local laws and policies governing public employees. Once I was free of those restraints, I became politically active, walking precincts and staffing phone banks for district candidates. I became a member of the local Democratic club and was soon invited to join its Executive Board.

I edited the club newsletter, maintained the member database, planned and implemented a campaign training workshop for volunteers, and continued to walk and phone for candidates.

In 2005 I was elected club president, with 72% of the votes cast, and I was re-elected in 2006 without opposition.

During my tenure as club president, I have encouraged and facilitated other club members to initiate several changes: a planned series of speakers, policy resolutions on important public issues, distribution of those resolutions to party and government officials, club representation on the County party's Resolutions Committee, monthly club luncheons to supplement the existing monthly meetings, a voter information table at the weekly farmer's market, resumption of a previously discontinued TV program, expansion of the newsletter and of the website, and improved liaison with other local organizations such as SoCal Grassroots, the Claremont MoveOn team, the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy, and the local chapter of the League of Women Voters.

I recently spearheaded the local collection of signatures for the CA Nurses' Association ballot initiative on "clean money" campaign finance reform and successfully lobbied the County party's Rules Committee to tighten up the attendance required to retain membership on the Central Committee.

In addition to my duties as club president, I am now on the campaign team of our Assembly candidate, whom I assisted in collecting nominating signatures and filing papers to run for office. I have also held a house party fund-raiser for our Congressional candidate and will soon do so for our Assembly candidate. I continue to contribute money to national and state candidates.

I am also a Board member and acting treasurer of a PAC which local Democratic activists have established to raise money for a permanent Democratic headquarters in the eastern end of Los Angeles County.

As an alternate member of the L.A. County Central Committee I have faithfully attended its meetings, although that is not required of alternates unless the principal member is absent. I am familiar with its operation and with the personalities and issues involved. I am now prepared to become a member in my own right.