Together with family, friends and staff, we watched Dr. Judy Chu being sworn in as the Congressional representative for California District 32.  Congratulations to Representative Judy Chu!  And congratulations California – we are fortunate to have such an experienced, dedicated elected official representing our state in Congress, especially during these difficult times.  

Sitting with Rep. Chu’s family, friends and staff, we reminisced about her background. She has long been a fierce public servant and she understands the importance of navigating the electoral pipeline. From my perspective, as an advocate to build the pipeline of future leaders, her story is important.

Rep. Chu began political life in her San Gabriel neighborhoods, but she’s no typical valley girl! During her more than 20 years as a public servant, Rep. Chu has served on the Garvey School District as a Board member, was a three term Mayor of Monterey Park, was elected to the California State Assembly, and was elected to the Board of Equalization where she served as Chair.  Rep. Chu has fought to protect working families, end discrimination, save healthcare, protect the environment, protect women, protect consumers, improve education and worked to close special interest tax loopholes.  Now she has distinguished herself as the first Chinese American woman to ever serve in Congress winning her seat with 62% of the vote in the March special election. With her background, we can all rest assured that Rep. Chu will bring her passion, commitment, and integrity to represent our State in the Nation’s capitol.  

Congratulations Rep. Chu, you are a shining example to the power of the pipeline!

So, where are all the women leaders of tomorrow? California is facing a crisis in the feminist fight for equality.  Only 33 women currently serve on our state legislature and just 6 women have ever held an Executive Branch office.  Each election cycle we lose more women to term limits and the pipeline of new women leaders has slowed to a trickle.   There are many reasons, but research shows women are choosing not to run because of the daunting hurdles facing our female candidates.  Raising huge amounts of money to run a viable race, making personal sacrifices, and all too often defending themselves from gender based biases from their opponents.  

Unfortunately, the pipeline for future women leaders is dwindling on every level.  City councils, supervisory boards, and boards of education are all reporting fewer numbers of women running and winning locally. Watching Rep. Chu being sworn reminded me once again how important it is to elect women at each level of government.

We need more women to run for office.  Rep. Chu’s election to serve California in Washington, D.C. confirms the power of the pipeline! Rep. Judy Chu probably never thought she would be working in the House chamber when she first ran for the Garvey School District Board.  Today she will cast her first votes as a member of Congress — I encourage women to follow Rep. Chu’s example because when you start small, you can accomplish big things.  Congratulations again to Congresswoman Judy Chu!

(cross-posted at Daily Kos)

Congratulations to Congresswoman Hilda Solis who was confirmed as Secretary of Labor this afternoon!

Secretary Hilda Solis is one of the reasons that I founded the CALIFORNIA List. I was working for EMILY’s List and met then Califoria State Senator Hilda Solis, who was running for Congress. She was challenging longtime Congressman Marty Martinez, who she believed did not represent the district with any enthusiasm or effectiveness. It was inspiring to watch her as a candidate and she won!  I saw first hand how the pipeline of terrific, qualified leaders works, and I see it again today as Barack Obama’s choice of one of California’s finest public servants was confirmed by the Senate 80-17.

Hilda Solis’s story, like President Obama’s, is emblematic of the way America can and should work for gifted and hardworking public servants who come from humble beginnings. Solis, one of seven children of Mexican immigrant factory workers who met in citizenship class here in Southern California, was the first of her family to attend college. From her start as an intern in the Carter Administration through her rise to the cabinet, her dedication and diligence were always informed by the drive to make better lives for working families like the one she came from.

And her story is not just an example of the American dream at work, but also of little-d democratic ideals, and of the pipeline of leadership that produces our best in government. Secretary Solis demonstrated skill and effectiveness as a representative of her district in Eastern Los Angeles, honed through representing her constituents thoughtfully, loyally, and tirelessly as an Assemblywoman from 1993-1994, and as a State Senator for the following six years before winning her House seat. Secretary Solis’s rise, far more incremental than meteoric, reminds us all why we need to elect women locally to keep the pipeline of Democratic women leadership producing more women like her.

Congratulations Hilda Solis!

There 16 women serving in our United States Senate.  With the election of Jeanne Shaheen there will be 17 women. With Hillary Clinton becoming the Secretary of State, we are back to 16 women.  When Carolyn Kennedy announced her decision to become a possible successor to the Hillary Clinton senate seat in New York, it was a bittersweet moment. We would be back to 17 women; however, what about the other women in the New York pipeline, who are both experienced and qualified not just in governance, but in the process of listening to voters and earning the public trust. Indeed, an interest in holding public office involves not just governance, but the concern and care that comes with listening to and learning about your constituency. Caroline Kennedy may well make a great Senator, but it would be reassuring if there was more evidence that she sees the value in this, even though she’d be skipping that process this time around.

As the founder of the CALIFORNIA LIST, an organization dedicated to electing Democratic women in California, I’ve spend the last seven years spreading the message of the importance of building a solid pipeline that produces experienced, qualified female leaders.   That’s what I hear over and over again that you cannot elect women just because they are women but because they are qualified and experienced.  To that end, in California we are working to create the essential pipeline to make sure that there are women in office and that the number will increase. That pipeline starts with experience in listening to voters in City Council and State Assembly races, and provides candidates with the experience that they need not just to govern effectively but campaign effectively.  We believe that pipeline candidates not only have legislative experience, but are potential leaders who have built a career that extends from local electoral roles to state seats and beyond.  The pipeline provides candidates with vital balance of political familiarity as well as the legislative edification necessary to succeed on the national level.

In my opinion, the three top choices for senate are women from the New York pipeline — Congresswomen Nita Lowey, Kirsten Gillibrand and Carolyn Maloney are all experienced and seasoned leaders.  Each of them have represented New York, understand the challenges of getting elected and how to raise money. They also understand firsthand how the legislative process works and the challenges that are facing New York. They have also attended many rubber chicken dinners – they have paid their dues in the political process.  If I lived in New York, I would have them on my “list” of Senate candidates.

In California, we have a great example of the pipeline at work in Senator Barbara Boxer. Senator Boxer served as a Marin County Supervisor, as a Congresswoman then she ran for Senate. By the time she entered the Senate, she had local and state experience. When she entered the Senate, she had build a coalition of support throughout the state.  She had also experienced really challenging elections.  As a result, Senator Boxer is a tenatious fighter for our state.  Senator Boxer is an example how the pipeline works.

I wish that there were more women who were interested in running for political office. When Caroline Kenedy announced her decision, I can not help but think, “you go girl.”  However, upon more reflection, I also think that there are so many other women, and even a few men, who have earned the position and are more qualified.  Maybe she should run for the New York State Senate. At least she would gain some experience and give New Yorkers a chance to get to know what her vision of public service looks like. If Caroline Kennedy shows a willingness to be a part of the pipeline, there’s no telling where it could lead her.

(Cross-posted at DKos)

Although we have had one woman running for President and one female vice-presidential candidate, the 2008 election was not a complete success for women. We elected ten new women to the House and two to the Senate, but also suffered bitter defeats in House races where incredibly qualified challengers like former Microsoft executive Darcy Burner and Huntington Beach mayor Debbie Cook lost hard fought races against lackluster Republican incumbents. Furthermore, the pipeline of women elected on the local and state level (especially here in California) has flat-lined.

As President-Elect Obama outlines his presidency, his immediate significant act is to appoint his team – this would include new Cabinet secretaries and agency heads. In recent weeks there has been a lot of news about who will serve in those positions, but with the exception of the Hillary Clinton/Secretary of State rumors, there does not seem to be too much chatter about women serving in the administration. It would be a mistake to pass over women like Tammy Duckworth, who knows first hand the experience and needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, for consideration for Secretary of the VA, or Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano for Attorney General.

However, don’t forget that in addition to appointing the Cabinet, Secretaries and Under-Secretaries, when the president takes office his Presidential appointees will include between 6,000 to 7,000 positions. These appointments are the best preparation for the next generation of women leaders, serving both as experience on a national stage and to mentor a fresh flow of women into the pipeline for higher offices in the future.

Here alone, in California, there are so many women who could serve – women like former Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin who would be ideal for a position in the Department of Education.  Or how about former Congresswoman and Chief of Staff for former Governor Gray Davis – Lynn Schenk? The Los Angeles Times on Friday reported the possibility of a great pick: Mary Nichols, the chair of the State Air Resources Board, to lead the EPA.

With such a diverse and rich talent pool of women in California and the rest of the country, there is no reason for Barack Obama to not have his cabinet and appointments reflect the gender makeup of the country he will lead.

For the comments: What women do you think should serve in the offices of the new President’s administration?

Bettina Duval is the founder of CALIFORNIA LIST, a network to elect Democratic women to California state government.

Why are we all in shock that a woman whose current residence is the Governor’s mansion in Juneau would be chosen as the GOP vice presidential nominee?  Perhaps it is because she is so cold to our view of democracy and women’s rights that her ideals could have a terrifying effect here in California. She is the poster mom for the film Juno whose storybook tale of a teenage pregnancy has become incarnate in Bristol Palin.  While her story is certainly played out in thousands of households across America, we all know the sugar-coated tale that winds from Hollywood to Alaska isn’t the norm for teenagers facing this monumental issue.

Teenage pregnancy is an issue that we Californians will be facing once again on our November ballot. Like a bad movie sequel, it’s a three time re-run for us in California.  Proposition 4 will force voters to assess the idea of promoting parental notification for underage abortions.  Twice before voters have rallied against this because they know it doesn’t really work.  Yet again we have to fight the fight for reproductive choice.

But never before has this ballot proposition had a limelight example like we do today.

Unlike the previous propositions, the opposition now has a teen pregnancy, pro-life family bursting across every media outlet courtesy of the McCain camp.  An atypical example readily available for the opposition to hold up for voters as a typical prototype.

While we can all dislike Palin’s ideology, we also must realize, like or not; that she represents a large population of women.  Palin represents my sister-in-law, who is anti-choice and staffs a teenage pregnancy hotline encouraging girls to not get abortions. My sister-in-law and women like her can neither be ignored nor should they be disrespected.  They vote too and they hold their ideals as dear as we Democrats do.  And, for us as Californians, this is particularly challenging because teenage pregnancy is an issue that Prop 4 will force Californians to face once again on the November ballot.  As critical as we are of her as a candidate, we should not overlook the fact ruthless forces behind this attempt to chip away at the Roe v. Wade stone will surely hold up the Palins as an example of how “easy” it is for a pregnant teenager to tell her parents about her predicament. Previous parental notification initiatives failed narrowly; Prop 85 in 2006 failed 46/54, and Prop 73 in the 2005 special election failed 47/53. A nationally recognized poster family can make this margin far narrower or tip the scales.

Who’s behind Proposition 4, anyway? It is funded almost entirely by two men, James Holman (publisher of the San Diego Reader) and Don Sebastiani (a winemaker and former assemblyman). Together they gave over 2 million of the 2.4 that funded the entire movement for it. The fact that this is the project of two guys is story enough, and surely if they are willing to throw two million of their own dollars at this initiative, they will have no problem making an example out of Bristol Palin.

(Note: Planned Parenthood has provided the most funding in the movement against these types of propositions and it is time that we help Planned Parenthood defeat this proposition. Donate visit the Campaign for Teen Safety website at http://www.noonprop4.org. ) The fact that this is the project of two guys is story enough.

This initiative continues to have the boomerang effect on the ballot circling back around for a third time. However, Proposition 4 is more precarious than the first two because it damages families as well as teens. Proposition 4 calls itself “family notification,” but in reality it’s a cruel process that would force scared pregnant teens who wanted to notify an alternate family member to report their parents to law enforcement.

In Juneau, Palin, though adamantly pro-life, said this about her daughter: “Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents.”   The key word is decision.  If all teenage girls were lucky enough to have forgiving and supportive parents like Sarah and Todd Palin they might all consider notifying their parents, but statistics show that’s not the case.

This is one reason why I think that Sarah Palin’s unyielding pro-life stance is so dangerous. Will her daughter’s pregnancy validate teens having babies? Can her actions be construed as a role model for young girls?

Teen pregnancy is a complex bipartisan issue that requires multi-faceted answers.  Blanket, one-dimensional thinking cannot solve this problem — And don’t get me started on Palin’s even more narrow views on gun control or even global warming.  Palin doesn’t think outside the box and therefore she isn’t the right leader for America in the 21st century. Palin’s rigid worldview makes her to archaic a leader for the 20th century, let alone the 21st.

Right now, as we are all focused on the national debate, serious challenges face us at home here in California. We must stay focused on the issues, not the personalities to make sure that our rights for teenagers, women, and as citizens remain our choice.

Vote NO on Proposition 4. If you would like to help, please visit The Campaign for Teen Safety for more information.

Bettina Duval is the founder of CALIFORNIA LIST, a network to elect Democratic women to California state government.

Term limits continue to keep women legislators trotting one step forward and two steps back in the battle for equal representation. Facing the worst budget deficit in history, legislators returned to Sacramento yesterday.  It is times like these, when experience and institutional knowledge play an important role in negotiations to make sure that the budget is fair and responsible.

Unfortunately, due to term limits, some of our most seasoned legislators will be leaving office at the end of this year. In November 34 tested legislators will be leaving office on both sides of the partisan fence.  It is during our uncertain economic future when decisions are being made that affect all Californians, we become acutely aware of the importance that experienced leadership can bring.  With a two-thirds majority mandate required to pass a budget, those years of experience at persuasion and consensus-building are indispensable.

In February, CALIFORNIA LIST held some moderated focus groups to better understand the perspectives of women when it comes to the importance of women in politics.  We found that there is a strong perception that female candidates and office holders will do a better job on the issues most important to them – in particular health care and education, two of the most contentious areas of the budget, but hugely important issues that affect all Californians.

As the founder of the CALIFORNIA LIST, I am concerned with the declining number of women in Sacramento.  The term limits that have dwindled our Assemblywomen since 1992 make it likely that its ranks will lose as many as five women again this election cycle. This is indeed a disheartening downward spiral.

When we look at the women we are losing in this year we will have a tremendous loss of experience and leadership. These are knowledgeable women who have moved up the through the political pipeline to make a difference for future generations. And still mandated term limits continue to erode the foundation of our qualified women legislators.

On August 13th we will gather in our state capital to celebrate the tireless service of the following women who have impacted California during their tenure in the state legislature. If you would like to attend, click here for more information.

**Senator Sheila Kuehl, author of 171 bills that have been signed into law, including legislation to establish paid family leave.

** Assemblymember Soto has a legislative record showing her strong support for the working class including legislation that increased workers’ compensation benefits.