Gloria Romero: Background

Background:
Goria Romero served as a member of the powerful Senate Rules Committee immediately upon her election and was subsequently elected as Democratic Caucus Chair. Soon after, she was elected as Majority Leader—the first and only woman to ever hold that leadership position in the history of the California State Senate.Senator Romero currently serves as Chair of the Education Committee as well as Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education, making her one of the most influential voices on education policy in California. Senator Romero believes that education is the civil rights issue of our time. “My mother had a sixth grade education; I have a PhD. I understand the transformational power of education and the key it holds to accessing the American Dream”. She created and chaired the Senate Select Committee on Urban School Governance. She has authored numerous pieces of legislation seeking to restore accountability in our public school educational system and enhance the learning opportunities for California’s students.
Senator Romero has also chaired the Senate Public Safety Committee and convened the Senate Select Committee on the California Correctional System. Prior to her election to the Senate, Romero served as a member of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees—the largest community college district in the nation. In 1995 she was the first Latina ever elected to this Board and served as its Vice President prior to her election to the California State Assembly in 1998. Upon her election she was appointed Majority Whip. Romero was also simultaneously elected in 1998 to the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission to overhaul the city charter. She served as its first Interim Chair and resigned to serve in the Assembly.
Senator Romero is the product of California’s public education system. She earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California and has taught at every level of higher education. She received the Outstanding Faculty Member award by the Associated Students at Cal State LA after only her second year on the faculty.
Senator Romero is a pro-choice legislator and has long championed progressive agendas focused on labor, the environment, and civil rights.

Taken from: http://dist24.casen.govoffice.com/