Carole Migden represents the third district in the California State Senate. The Third State Senate district covers parts of San Francisco, all of Marin County and parts of Sonoma County.
Political office
Democrat Carole Migden represents the 3rd District in the California State Senate, which includes parts of San Francisco, Sonoma County, and Marin County.[1] She was previously a member of the California State Assembly (1996-2002) and Chairwoman of the California Board of Equalization (2002-2004), the nation's only publicly-elected tax commission. She also served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1991-1996). She also chaired the San Francisco Democratic Party for eight years and is a member of the Democratic National Committee.
Carole Migden is the Chairperson of California Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee and the Chairperson of the Senate Majority Caucus. She was previously the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair.
Accomplishments
Senator Migden's accomplishments at the BOE included strengthening property rights for same sex couples, leveling the playing field between brick and mortar establishments and online retailers, and protecting California's precious open space.
In the State Assembly, Migden served for five years as Chairwoman of the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. She was the first woman and the first lesbian to chair that committee. She also served for four years as a conferee on the state's Joint Budget Conference Committee, which writes the final version of California's state budget. As a member of the State Assembly, Migden authored legislation to create California's landmark domestic partner registry, promote children's health, preserve the old growth Headwaters Forest, increase accountability in K-12 schools, protect borrowers from predatory and deceptive lending practices, protect consumers from manipulation by energy generators, and promote the use of emergency contraception. [1] [2]
A leader in environmental protection Migden led the country with the visionary ‘‘Clean Water Act’’ in 1999 imposing the most severe penalties in the nation against industrial polluters dumping harmful toxins in California waterways. She also authored the Headwaters Forest and SF Wetlands/Cargill legislation that enabled the state preservation of the ancient Headwaters Forest and restoration of the San Francisco Baylands into a wildlife habitat and recovery of endangered species. [3]
Over the last seven years Migden has authored a serious body of legislation for domestic partnership in California providing far-reaching benefits to the LGBT community and unmarried senior citizens. Assembly Bill 26 in 1999 marked the first time in the nation a state legislature passed a domestic partnership statute without forcible intervention of the courts. (Assembly Bill 26). [4] [5] [6] Migden’s legislation has allowed for increase civil rights claimed by domestic partners, the legalization of the transfer of property between domestic partners without reassessment for tax purposes (Senate Bill 565), [7] and the filing of domestic partner income-tax returns under the same status as married couples. (Senate Bill 1827). [8]
In 2005 Migden cracked down on tax loopholes allowing corporate giants to sequester millions in offshore tax shelters and depleating the state of revenues. (SB 663). During her time as a legislator Migden has also provided comprehensive foster care reforms legislation creating programs including transitional housing, increased savings accounts & adoption incentives for teens. [9]
One of the state’s strongest HIV/AIDS awareness advocates Migden has authored legislation providing for rapid HIV testing (AB 1263) [10], protection of health care workers from needle injuries (AB 1046) and enabling of HIV positive people to have healthy children (SB 443) [11]. Before entering the assembly, as a San Francisco supervisor, Migden strengthened HIV/AIDS prevention, service delivery programs, protection of the health budget and created innovative safe-sex programs.
In 2002 Migden authored legislation (AB 1860) requiring the state to provide information regarding the “morning after” contraception to female victims of sexual assault [12]. Migden further passed legislation (AB 673) creating a state wide DNA data base for rapists, murders, and other violent crimes.
Staunchly opposed of the war in Iraq Migden became one of the first outspoken critics of the war and passed a senate resolution making California the first state in the nation to formally oppose the surge of troops in Iraq.
Personal Life
A native of New York City, Migden was born August 14, 1948. Migden is a member of the Jewish faith. After moving to San Francisco, she became very active in community service.
Marriage
In February 2004, she married Cristina Arguedas, a criminal defense attorney and her partner since 1985, in a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.[2] That marriage was later annulled by the California Supreme Court.[3]
Leukemia
On May 23, 2007, Migden announced that she was diagnosed with leukemia in 1997 (about a year into her first assembly term). She was only expected to live 3-5 years after her diagnosis. [4]
Driving History
On May 18, 2007, Migden was involved in an automobile accident where she crashed her SUV into a sedan, which was stopped at a red light. There were no serious injuries and no citation was written. Migden was given a Breathalyzer test, which showed that she was not drunk.
While initial accusations of reckless driving due to cell phone use were levied against the senator, the California Highway Patrol later retracted its original statement [5] of fault as Migden undergoes medical tests. It is believed that Migden suffered from an adverse response to her Leukemia treatment that lead her to drive erratically.[6][7] 911 tapes released in August show other drivers who saw her during her 30-mile trip along I-80 were panicking as they reported seeing her hit the center divider, and repeatedly come close to hitting other cars, before finally hitting one.[8] Senator Migden has voluntarily ceased driving as she continues to undergo treatment and as medical tests are pursued.
Awards
In 1999, Migden, a lesbian, received the National Center for Lesbian Rights' "Lesbian Leadership Award". In 2000, she was recognized with the "Affordable Housing Leadership Award". In 2001, Migden was named "Legislator of the Year" by the California National Organization for Women. In 1999 she also received “Legislator of the Year” honors from the California School Employees Association.
In 1998 Migden was named “Rookie of the year” award by the California Journal. She took top honors in the categories of most integrity, most intelligence, hardest working, most ambitious, and most influential.
Migden was also awarded the "Geraldine Johnson Award" for outstanding support of the labor community; and received "Cape Crusader Award" from California Alliance for Pride and Equality.
Migden has received leadership awards from prominent environmental and civil rights organizations. She continuously received high honors in California Journal's annual rankings, including "Quick Study" in 2002.
References
- ↑ California Senate District 3 Map
- ↑ Newsom does the honors for Migden, partner, The San Francisco Chronicle, February 21, 2004
- ↑ Top State Court Voids S.F.'s Gay Marriages, The San Francisco Chronicle, August 13, 2004
- ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/24/MNGJSQ0N5M1.DTL
- ↑ http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/25/BAGJSQ1ISE1.DTL&hw=migden+leukemia&sn=005&sc=574
- ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/24/MNGJSQ0N5M1.DTL
- ↑ http://sfist.com/2007/05/23/carole_migdens.php
- ↑ http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070810-1910-ca-migdenaccident.html
