Candidate for
United States Representative; District 39; Democratic Party

Helen Rahder was born the oldest of 14 children, so she learned to take a leadership role almost from the beginning. Her father was a New York City firefighter and her mother a school teacher, so she learned early the value of public service. Helen has fulfilled that promise by becoming a teacher, a community activist, a planning commissioner and a city councilwoman.

Helen's community activism began after the 1987 Whittier earthquake when she became the leader (and lightning rod) for a group of citizens fighting to stop irresponsible developers who wanted to bulldoze quake-damaged homes and replace them with shoddy apartments and strip malls. In 1990 she ran for the Whittier City Council and was the top vote-getter in a race no one thought she could win.

On the council she was an outspoken advocate for quality of life issues. Her fight to prevent haphazard development, promote the creation of better jobs, preserve precious open space, and protect the quality of neighborhoods awakened a new spirit in the city. Within four years the entire city council was made up of her allies. Locally, they called it the "Rahder Revolution."

Helen went on to serve on the Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority Advisory Committee and the Whittier Planning Commission. Through her continuing service on both bodies she has developed special expertise in environmental law and land use.

Helen Rahder is an active Democrat. She has been a valuable member of the Mark Twain Democratic Club since 1985, served on the L.A. County Democratic Central Committee from 1996 to 2000, and was a delegate to the State Democratic Convention in 1998 and 2000.

Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in English and Political Science, both from Whittier College. She was married for 22 years to the late Jack Rahder, a pilot for United Airlines with whom she raised 6 children. Helen is a founding member of the Whittier Conservancy, a member and former board member of the Whittier Chapter of the American Association of University Women, and a proud member of CTA/NEA, Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Sierra Club and the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society.

Those who have shared her battles have always counted on Helen Rahder to talk straight and work tirelessly. Quite simply, there is no one like her, and no one more qualified to represent the diverse communities in the 39th Congressional District. In short, Helen Rahder makes a difference!