Senator, California State Senate, 2010-2014

Assembly Member, California State Assembly, 2004-2010

Council Member, Santa Rosa City Council, 1996-2004

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, California State Senate

Former Member, Banking and Finance Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, California State Senate

Member, Bay Area Caucus

Former Chair, Budget Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, California State Senate

Member, California Law Revision Commission

Member, California Legislature's Rural Caucus

Former Majority Whip, California State Assembly

Former Democratic Caucus Chair, California State Assembly

Commissioner, Commission on the Status of Women, present

Member, Environmental Caucus

Former Member, Governmental Organization Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Governmental Organization Committee, California State Senate

Former Member, Joint Legislative Audit Committee, California State Assembly

Member, Legislative Women's Caucus

Former Chair, Legislative Women's Caucus

Member, Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force, present

Member, Western State Legislative Forestry Task Force, present

Member, Santa Rosa Planning Commission, 1993-1996

Attorney, Lanahan & Reilley

Attorney, O'Brien, Watters, & Davis

Member, Board of Directors, Leadership Institute for Ecology & the Economy

Member, California Coastal Conservancy Board, present

Founding Member, Coalition for a Better Sonoma County

Member, Judicial Council of California, present

Priority Issues:

fighting for families and children, protecting our environment, reforming our legal system, and advocating for California wine

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

As your state Senator, I pledge to work to:
* Restore democracy to fiscal matters by eliminating the 2/3 vote rule that allows a small minority to block passage of a budget.
* Pay off General Fund debt that inhibits California's ability to maintain vital public services.
* Require ballot initiatives placed on the California ballot to be self-funded so they don't detract from existing services.