PELOSI & BOWEN'S WIN-WIN
Elena Ong
January 08, 2007
On November 7, 2006, California scored a "Win-Win" when two of Califoria's political stars broke the marble ceiling. Both women secured the #3 spot in political office. At the national level, Pelosi will be 2 heartbeats from the Presidency, and at the state level, Bowen will be 2 heartbeats away from the Governorship
In the First 100 Hours of a New Direction for America, from January 4 to January 8, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was sworn-in as the first woman speaker in America and State Senator Debra Bowen will be sworn-in as the second woman Secretary of State in California.
Their wins establish that America is ready for a woman to hold the #3 spot, and that America is poised for a woman to hold the #1 and #2 spot.
That's why many organizations, including the National Organization for Women, the National Women's Political Caucus, and the Women's Caucus of the California Democratic Party, began the countdown of "THE FIRST 100 HOURS OF A NEW DIRECTION FOR AMERICA" by organizing satellite-viewing parties of Nancy Pelosi being sworn-in as the first Woman Speaker of the House. Women at the NWPC & CDP West Los Angeles House Party recognized the "Double-Win" by celebrating Pelosi's and Bowen's victories.
NATIONAL WIN: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI
1st Woman Speaker in America
3rd Highest Ranking Office in America, 2 Heartbeats from the US Presidency
40 Million Votes Cast for 233 Democratic Congressmembers
In 2004, U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi broke the glass ceiling when she became the first woman Minority Leader in the United States. In 2006, Pelosi led the Democrats' Congressional Agenda and "Six in '06: A New Direction for America: Security, Prosperity & Opportunity for All."
1. Real Security at Home & Overseas
2. Better American Jobs, Better Pay, A Fair Wage
3. College Access for All
4. Energy Independence
5. Affordable Health Care & Life Saving Science, and
6. Retirement Security & Dignity.
On November 7, 2006, America's Majority voted for a total of 233 Democrats, 31 more Democrats or twice the minimum needed to "shift the balance of power" from a 2004 Republican Majority to a 2006 Democratic Majority. On January 4, 2007, Pelosi broke a new marble ceiling to become the First Woman Speaker of the US House of Representatives, the highest ranking woman and the highest ranking Democrat in the nation. As Speaker, Pelosi is 2 heartbeats away from the U.S. Presidency. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uecdo3Mcxw
CALIFORNIA'S WIN: SECRETARY OF STATE DEBRA BOWEN
2nd Woman Secretary of State in California's History
3rd Highest Ranking Office in California's Executive Branch, 2 Heartbeats from the California Governorship
4 Million Cast Votes for Bowen
In 2000, the National Women's Political Caucus, a non-partisan Political Action Committee that trains and funds pro-choice women to run for, and win, local, state and national elected office, articulated a vision for the equal representation of women in elected office: 50/50 by 2020. In 2002, California List, a Democratic Political Action Committee to elect pro-choice, Democratic women to all branches of California government, challenged pro-choice donors and Democratic women candidates to recognize that 2/3 of California's officeholders would be termed out by 2006, and that women officeholders had to begin now to plan their succession strategy, to "mentor" another pro-choice woman up the political pipeline, and to "term-up" or "term-sideways" instead of "term-out."
Hard to believe, but only 5 women have ever been elected to statewide constitutional office in California. The first was Treasurer Ivy Baker Priest (R) 1967-74; followed by Secretary of State March Fong Eu (D) 1975-93; Treasurer Kathleen Brown (D) 1991-95; Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin (NP) 1985-2003 and Controller Kathleen Connell (D) 1995-2003.
With no women holding statewide elected office in 2004, four State Senators who were "terming-out" decided to "term-up" by running to be the "Sixth in '06."
In 2006, four women ran in "women vs. women" Democratic primaries. In the race for Lt. Governor: State Senator Jackie Speier (D), State Senator Liz Figueroa (D) and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) ran. The Honorable John Garamendi prevailed as the victor for Lt. Governor in the 2006 primary and general election. At his swearing-in, Lt. Governor Garamendi re-affirmed his commitment to protecting California's greatness and California's future, by protecting the environment, advancing access and quality of science and education, and promoting fair wages, safe working conditions and universal health coverage. In the race for Secetary of State: State Senator Debra Bowen (D) and State Senator Deborah Ortiz (D) ran. Debra Bowen prevailed as the victor in the 2006 primary and general election, and will be sworn-in as Secretary of State today.
As Chair of Senate Elections and Reapportionment Committee, Bowen ran for Secretary of State on three priorities: (1) full voter registration and participation; (2) accurate voting systems so every vote is counted as it was cast; and (3) public disclosure of campaign contributions. On November 7, 2006, Bowen won handily with 4 million votes, defeating the incumbent by more than a quarter million votes. While Bowen makes history as the second woman to ever hold the office of California Secretary of State, the 6th woman ever-elected to statewide constitutional office, and the 7th woman to ever hold statewide constitutional office, in California, she is the only female to hold statewide constitutional office in 2007. Hence with this comes the responsibility to use use her post to ensure that the elections process is fair, that the elections process is accurate, that women and men have equal opportunity to qualify and vote for candidates for elected office, and that women, and men, have equal opportunity to qualify for, run for, and win, elected office in California.
2007 marks a New Era for Equality, Fairness and Electoral Justice, particularly with so many women at the helm. For as Debra Bowen gets sworn-in today as California's Secretary of State, she will join other national greats, like U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein who will Chair Senate Rules & Administration Committee to push ethics and voting reform, and Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald who will oversee Election Administration in her powerful leadership role on House Administration.
In the First 100 Hours of a New Direction for America, from January 4 to January 8, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was sworn-in as the first woman speaker in America and State Senator Debra Bowen will be sworn-in as the second woman Secretary of State in California.
Their wins establish that America is ready for a woman to hold the #3 spot, and that America is poised for a woman to hold the #1 and #2 spot.
That's why many organizations, including the National Organization for Women, the National Women's Political Caucus, and the Women's Caucus of the California Democratic Party, began the countdown of "THE FIRST 100 HOURS OF A NEW DIRECTION FOR AMERICA" by organizing satellite-viewing parties of Nancy Pelosi being sworn-in as the first Woman Speaker of the House. Women at the NWPC & CDP West Los Angeles House Party recognized the "Double-Win" by celebrating Pelosi's and Bowen's victories.
NATIONAL WIN: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI
1st Woman Speaker in America
3rd Highest Ranking Office in America, 2 Heartbeats from the US Presidency
40 Million Votes Cast for 233 Democratic Congressmembers
In 2004, U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi broke the glass ceiling when she became the first woman Minority Leader in the United States. In 2006, Pelosi led the Democrats' Congressional Agenda and "Six in '06: A New Direction for America: Security, Prosperity & Opportunity for All."
1. Real Security at Home & Overseas
2. Better American Jobs, Better Pay, A Fair Wage
3. College Access for All
4. Energy Independence
5. Affordable Health Care & Life Saving Science, and
6. Retirement Security & Dignity.
On November 7, 2006, America's Majority voted for a total of 233 Democrats, 31 more Democrats or twice the minimum needed to "shift the balance of power" from a 2004 Republican Majority to a 2006 Democratic Majority. On January 4, 2007, Pelosi broke a new marble ceiling to become the First Woman Speaker of the US House of Representatives, the highest ranking woman and the highest ranking Democrat in the nation. As Speaker, Pelosi is 2 heartbeats away from the U.S. Presidency. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uecdo3Mcxw
CALIFORNIA'S WIN: SECRETARY OF STATE DEBRA BOWEN
2nd Woman Secretary of State in California's History
3rd Highest Ranking Office in California's Executive Branch, 2 Heartbeats from the California Governorship
4 Million Cast Votes for Bowen
In 2000, the National Women's Political Caucus, a non-partisan Political Action Committee that trains and funds pro-choice women to run for, and win, local, state and national elected office, articulated a vision for the equal representation of women in elected office: 50/50 by 2020. In 2002, California List, a Democratic Political Action Committee to elect pro-choice, Democratic women to all branches of California government, challenged pro-choice donors and Democratic women candidates to recognize that 2/3 of California's officeholders would be termed out by 2006, and that women officeholders had to begin now to plan their succession strategy, to "mentor" another pro-choice woman up the political pipeline, and to "term-up" or "term-sideways" instead of "term-out."
Hard to believe, but only 5 women have ever been elected to statewide constitutional office in California. The first was Treasurer Ivy Baker Priest (R) 1967-74; followed by Secretary of State March Fong Eu (D) 1975-93; Treasurer Kathleen Brown (D) 1991-95; Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin (NP) 1985-2003 and Controller Kathleen Connell (D) 1995-2003.
With no women holding statewide elected office in 2004, four State Senators who were "terming-out" decided to "term-up" by running to be the "Sixth in '06."
In 2006, four women ran in "women vs. women" Democratic primaries. In the race for Lt. Governor: State Senator Jackie Speier (D), State Senator Liz Figueroa (D) and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) ran. The Honorable John Garamendi prevailed as the victor for Lt. Governor in the 2006 primary and general election. At his swearing-in, Lt. Governor Garamendi re-affirmed his commitment to protecting California's greatness and California's future, by protecting the environment, advancing access and quality of science and education, and promoting fair wages, safe working conditions and universal health coverage. In the race for Secetary of State: State Senator Debra Bowen (D) and State Senator Deborah Ortiz (D) ran. Debra Bowen prevailed as the victor in the 2006 primary and general election, and will be sworn-in as Secretary of State today.
As Chair of Senate Elections and Reapportionment Committee, Bowen ran for Secretary of State on three priorities: (1) full voter registration and participation; (2) accurate voting systems so every vote is counted as it was cast; and (3) public disclosure of campaign contributions. On November 7, 2006, Bowen won handily with 4 million votes, defeating the incumbent by more than a quarter million votes. While Bowen makes history as the second woman to ever hold the office of California Secretary of State, the 6th woman ever-elected to statewide constitutional office, and the 7th woman to ever hold statewide constitutional office, in California, she is the only female to hold statewide constitutional office in 2007. Hence with this comes the responsibility to use use her post to ensure that the elections process is fair, that the elections process is accurate, that women and men have equal opportunity to qualify and vote for candidates for elected office, and that women, and men, have equal opportunity to qualify for, run for, and win, elected office in California.
2007 marks a New Era for Equality, Fairness and Electoral Justice, particularly with so many women at the helm. For as Debra Bowen gets sworn-in today as California's Secretary of State, she will join other national greats, like U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein who will Chair Senate Rules & Administration Committee to push ethics and voting reform, and Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald who will oversee Election Administration in her powerful leadership role on House Administration.
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