Ellen Corbett

Ellen M. Corbett
Member of the California State Senate from the 10th district
In office December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by	Liz Figueroa
Succeeded by	Bob Wieckowski
Majority Leader of the Senate
In office December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by	Dean Florez
Member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district
In office December 7, 1998 – December 6, 2004
Preceded by	Michael Sweeney
Succeeded by	Johan Klehs
Personal details
Born	December 31, 1954 Oakland, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Children	Ryan Boehme
Residence	Hayward
Alma mater	McGeorge School of Law University of California, Davis California State University, East Bay
Occupation	Attorney College professor
Religion	Roman Catholic[1]

Ellen Marie Corbett is a Democratic politician from the San Francisco Bay Area. She served in the California State Senate, representing the 10th District, which included San Leandro, Hayward, Pleasanton, Union City, Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, and part of San Jose. She was the Senate Majority Leader.

Ellen Corbett was elected to the California State Assembly in the 1998, and served there until 2004, when she was termed out. She has served as a city councilperson, and mayor, in San Leandro, and has worked as an attorney, community college professor and civic activist.^[2]

Corbett attended Chabot Community College and California State University, East Bay. She graduated from the University of California, Davis and McGeorge Law School.^[3]

She lives in Hayward, California.^[4]

Senate 10th District

The 10th District encompasses the southern part of the East Bay, located directly south of California's 9th State Senate district. As such, it includes the southern half of Alameda County and a portion of Santa Clara County.

2011 redistricting

After redistricting in 2011 by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the new 10th district now includes 40.7% of Alameda County and 17.4% of Santa Clara County. Cities in the district include Fremont, Hayward, Milpitas, and Santa Clara. The new boundaries will take effect in the 2014 election for the district, which Corbett is ineligible to run in due to term limits.

2014 US Congressional elections

Corbett will be termed out of the state senate seat in 2014. In February 2013, addressing the possibility of her running for Eric Swalwell's seat in the US House of Representatives 15th congressional district, Corbett said "I would be honored to serve in [the United States] Congress, but it’s too early to discuss 2014."^[5]

After the 2013 legislative session, Corbett began campaigning against Swalwell, with the support of Pete Stark, who Swalwell defeated in 2012.^[6] However, she finished in third by 0.5% to Hugh Bussell, a technology manager/educator from Livermore, also in the race. Swalwell finished in the lead with almost 50 percent of the vote.

Legislative positions

Corbett has passed legislation to provide students with more information on student loan options, provide safeguards for car purchasers, and protect California homeowners who suffered during the nationwide housing crisis.^[2]

She has received an 87% rating from Clean Water Action California in 2012, and a 99% lifetime rating from the California League of Conservation Voters.^[7]

Corbett has publicly advocated for restoring of full funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the 2012 U.S. Farm Bill, which had proposed cuts to the program.^[8]

Legislative honors

In 2008, Corbett was named one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California and an Outstanding Legislator by the California State Sheriff’s Association.^[9] She has received honors from the California Labor Federation, the Consumer Federation of California, the American Cancer Society, the California Congress of Seniors, the Sierra Club of California,^[10] the Environmental Working Group, the California League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action California, and the Hindu American Foundation.^[11]

References

1. "Senator Ellen Corbett Biography - Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. 1954-12-31. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
2. "Biography | Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett". Sd10.senate.ca.gov. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
3. "UC Santa Cruz | Advocacy, Community, and Government Relations". Santacruz.www.ucforcalifornia.org. 1954-12-31. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
5. Potential House rivals to share podium at dinner
6. http://www.rollcall.com/news/starks_revenge_bad_blood_lingers_with_former_foe-229233-1.html
7. "Senator Ellen Corbett Political Summary - Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
9. Commissioner Senator Ellen Corbett
10. Biography, Senator Ellen M. Corbett
11. "Environment | Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett". Sd10.senate.ca.gov. Retrieved 2013-06-21.

External links

• Corbett at the Maplight.org campaign finance website
• Corbett at the Votesmart.org website
• Corbett Twitter feed