Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 6

Barbara Heller has lived with her husband Norman, in the Sun Valley neighborhood of San Rafael since the Seventies. The couple's two daughters, Sarah and Leslie, attended both Sun Valley Elementary and Davidson Junior High, both public schools, where Barbara involved herself in PTA, school activities and scouting. Both daughters graduated from San Rafael High School and are recent college graduates.

Until 1989, the Hellers owned and managed a sporting goods business in San Francisco. Barbara was employed by Senator Milton Marks, the State Bar of California, and the County of Marin as staff to the Commission on the Status of Women. She still found time to be active in civic affairs, women's issues, and community organizations.

San Rafael City Council

Elected to the San Rafael City Council in November 1993, Barbara previously served on the San Rafael Planning Commission. Council responsibilities include: serving on the Police Radio Committee, Marin County Waste Management Advisory Committee, Business Issues Committee, Block Grant Funds Committee, Canal Development Committee, ABAG, and the League of California Cities. She also is a graduate of the San Rafael Citizen's Police Academy. She was Vice Mayor in 1997 and was re-appointed Vice Mayor in 2000. Barbara is now serving her second term on the San Rafael City Council.

In 1996, Barbara was elected President of the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) and chaired the Public Safety Radio Committee. Presently, she is a member of the Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO), a member of the Legislative Committee and the Joint Services Committee.

Active in the League of California Cities, Barbara was the First Vice President of the Mayors and Council Members Department in 1999 and was elected President for 2000. She serves on the Transportation Committee, one of the eight policy committees of the League.

Broad Community Involvement

Barbara completed the Leadership Training Institute sponsored by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves as a Board member of Exodus, a residential center for persons with autism. She serves on the advisory board of the Family Law Center. She was President of the National Women's Political Caucus, and was named to the County Commission for Employment and Training. In the 1980's, she was elected to two terms on the Marin County Committee on School District Organization, serving one year as Chairperson.

Memberships: Barbara is a member of the Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods. She also belongs to the League of Women Voters, Marin Forum, Audubon Society, Marin Conservation League, Wednesday Morning Dialogue, Sierra Club, YWCA, American Association of University Women, the Terra Linda Rotary, National Women's Political Caucus, the Marin Democratic Club and Marin N.O.W.

Education: Arizona State University, Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration