Page 51 - CALIFORNIA WOMAN - FULL SPRING EDITION 2024 - PDF FORMAT

CFBPW awarded the “Legislator of the Year” to State Senator
Maria Elena Durazo (26th District). She was the seventh child out
of eleven children born to migrant parents. As a child she worked in
the fields with her parents. She learned about hard work. She was
able to go to St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. After college
she was an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers
Union. While working as a union organizer she pursued an educa-
tion in law at the People’s College of Law and earned her degree in
1985. In 2008 she served as the Vice President of the Democratic
National Committee and as the National Co-Chair of the Barack
Obama Presidential Campaign. She said, “I believe in the power of
people – not the power of government. We need to have where
everyone gets fair wages and good working conditions.” She contin-
ues to work on raising wages, keeping more people from becoming
Rosemary with Legislator
homeless and access to health care. She said, “We need women
of the Year State Senator
leaders to speak out for basic human needs.”
Maria Elena Durazo

After lunch the Bill Screening Committee reviewed some bills that have been proposed
and took positions on four of them. Then Shaaron Casey had the Conference take a quiz
“Have You Ever” on political involvement – e.g. being poll workers, participating in campaigns,
holding fundraisers, running for political offices, etc. There were 20 items on the list. The most
any member had done was 16 on the list. Rosemary reminded everyone on the importance of
voting and getting people registered to vote – “Bad officials are elected by good people who do
not vote.” The Conference adjourned at 2:25 P.M.

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Attendees at the 64th Public Policy Conference