Campaign Alert: Look who's running- why not you?

Look who's running for office The 2012 Project identifies, inspires and connects women so they can be successful candidates for state legislatures and Congress in 2012. As a non-partisan organization, we don't endorse individual candidates, but here are profiles of a few of the extraordinary women who are finding their way to public service and elected office with our help -- and yours. Running for an open seat in her state's House of Representatives: CEO of a healthcare technology company with extensive experience in policymaking. A published author, expert on corporate wellness programs and supporter of women's leadership, she had never seriously considered running for office - until she attended a 2012 Project presentation this summer.      From the South and running for Congress: First female president and CEO of a large nonprofit focused on improving economic opportunities and eliminating poverty. An award-winning, Top 40 under 40 business leader with strong ties to her education and business communities and an avid social media guru, she found The 2012 Project via Twitter!      From the West and running for State Assembly: An optometrist and longtime community leader on women's rights, racial equality and healthcare, she attended a 2012 Project presentation. This multi-lingual, grassroots volunteer is invited frequently to appear on regional TV news programs to discuss health and environmental issues.     Former state legislator running for Congress: A rock star fundraiser and leader in business, this Northwesterner worked in high tech and heard about us via word of mouth. She has more than 20 years of community leadership in economic development, helping families to be self-sufficient, training women to succeed and increasing opportunities for youth in poverty.       Running for an open seat in her state's House of Representatives: Executive director of an environmental nonprofit, with a passion for grassroots organizing and mobilizing her community to create positive change. This Midwesterner also leads a statewide coalition to promote sustainability as a successful business practice. She heard about us via our partner Rachel's Network.   Why not you? Why not now? Head to www.the2012project.us and click on "Thinking of running for office?"   Support The 2012 Project!       All gifts made to The 2012 Project are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. The 2012 Project is a nonpartisan, national campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, a 501(c)(3) organization. Visit them on the web: www.the2012project.us

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NWPC CA Endorses Betsy Butler for Assembly District 50

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2011

Contact: Lindsay Bubar 

Phone: 818-516-4697

lindsay.bubar@gmail.com

The National Women's Political Caucus of California Supports Assemblymember Betsy Butler 

for re-election to Assembly District 50

The National Women's Political Caucus of California (NWPC) has announced its endorsement of Assemblymember Betsy Butler, who is running for re-election in California State Assembly District 50.

"We are proud to support Assemblymember Betsy Butler," said Teray Stephens, President of NWPC California.  "Not only has Betsy been a long-time active member and leader of NWPC, but she embodies the goals of our organization."

Stephens continued, "Betsy has advocated for women her entire career, encouraged women to become involved in the political process and helped them succeed. Now, as an elected woman herself, she is fighting for equality, reproductive freedom and an end to violence and discrimination against women.  Betsy is one of us."

Demonstrating her commitment to these values, Assemblymember Butler authored legislation to ban the use of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles and sippy cups which has been approved by both houses of the Legislature and was recently sent to the Governor for signature.

"We commend Assemblymember Butler for her work to protect infants and children and her continuing fight for stronger consumer protection laws," said Stephens.  "In the Assembly, Betsy has fought for legislation to expand health care coverage for women, promote mammography screening information and ensure that law enforcement agencies who collect rape kit evidence share that information with the Department of Justice."

Assemblymember Butler is a former President of the NWPC-LA Westside Chapter. During her tenure, she helped grow her chapter's membership to one of the largest in the state and worked with chapters throughout California to support candidate and campaign training programs targeted toward women seeking to become more involved in the political process.

"I am honored to have the support of NWPC," said Assemblymember Butler.  "Not only am I a long time member of the organization, I am extremely proud of the work NWPC does to involve women in the political process, support women candidates and promote policies for equality, reproductive freedom and the eradication of violence and discrimination in our society."

Assemblymember Butler has served as a mentor to women seeking election to political offices at all levels of government.  She has raised tens of thousands of dollars for NWPC and women candidates and has promoted career options for women in the political, non-profit and public service sectors.

"Betsy Butler is a dedicated advocate who is committed to do the work to help elect and promote women, in politics and in life.  She is a leader and a fighter for public policies that help women, families and all Californians," concluded Stephens.

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NWPC CA is a multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in the political process and creating a political power base designed to achieve equality for all women. NWPC CA identifies, recruits, trains and supports feminist women for elected and appointed office. 

Women encouraged to run for public office

By Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times
September 18, 2011

As the number of elected females falls, a boot camp in West Hollywood provides information and moral support for would-be candidates.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, in an event hall filled with women, one stranger turned to another and asked: "What made you get out of bed to be here?"

 Vallerie Wagner took a deep breath.

"Well," she said. "I've often toyed around with the idea of running for office."

Many of the women around her had done the same.

The purpose of Saturday's seminar was to persuade them to take the next step.

For years, women's groups have hosted boot camps across the country to instruct women in the art of campaigning and the realities of public office. Such efforts have increased in Los Angeles recently, partly because of the dearth of elected female officials in city government.

 One woman sits on the 15-member Los Angeles City Council, a statistic that one of Saturday's speakers, Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey), called "so depressing."

The picture at the national level is also distressing, she and others say. This year, the number of women sworn in to Congress fell slightly for the first time in 30 years. And the number of female lawmakers in state capitals nationwide decreased by the largest percentage in decades.

"We are not making the gains we should be making,"

Serena Josel, center, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood LA, and Rachel Michelin, right, of California Women Lead, listen to Lindsay Bubar, president, NWPC-Westside, speak at a seminar for women considering running for office. (Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times / September 18, 2011

 West Hollywood City Councilwoman Abbe Land told the audience, gathered at an event center in Plummer Park. The city of West Hollywood co-sponsored Saturday's event, along with several women's political groups and the California Commission on the Status of Women. Outside, children ran through the park and elderly Russian immigrants played cards. Inside, the tone was serious.

"You're not going to change the number of women elected to office until you change the number of people who run," said Rachel Michelin of California Women Lead.



Speakers offered practical tips on how to organize campaign volunteers and ways to spend donations effectively. (One hint: Don't waste campaign funds on business cards; instead, hand out envelopes printed with your name and information to make it easy for people to contribute.)

 They also stressed the importance of getting women appointed to government commissions and state and local redistricting committees, helping to ensure that there are women well positioned to run for office in the future.



Event speakers included Jan Perry, the lone woman on the Los Angeles City Council, and City Controller Wendy Greuel. Both are seriously considering runs for mayor in 2013.

And both said that while campaigning for office, they faced naysayers who told them they would never win.

 But women are resilient, Greuel said: "We give birth." 

In the end, Wagner said she was "inching a little closer" to a run for office, perhaps the Westside seat currently held by L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl.

A longtime community activist who works at AIDS Project Los Angeles, Wagner said she planned to accept the offer from one of the day's speakers of a free political consultation and had taken notes on building an effective social media profile. 

But she said that before she makes any announcement, "I've got a lot of homework to do."



View Piece on LATIMES.com

Board Member Spotlight: Karriann Farrell Hinds

Karriann Farrell Hinds is an attorney and social justice advocate.  A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley (B.A., English), Karriann worked on Capital Hill as a legislative assistant for the American Civil Liberties Union before pursuing her juris doctorate at Loyola Law School. She spent several years practicing in general business litigation, family law and public interest agencies before making the switch to political and policy related work. Karriann serves on several boards committed to increasing equality, including the ACLU of Southern California affiliate (rooting out injustice across the land), the NWPC LA Westside chapter (pursuing gender equality in politics), as the Vice President of Political Action for NWPC California, the Women’s Political Committee and Close the Gap California. Additionally, Karriann is a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission for Women and a gubernatorial appointee to the California Board of Accountancy.