Candidate for
Director; Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District; Ward 2

Dear Friends, I come from a working class family that left SF after the 1906 earthquake and settled in Berkeley. I graduated from Berkeley High School in 1969. My formal education ended much earlier, though. I spent my teen years in North Oakland. Much of what I know, and who I am today is self-taught.

In 1972, after McGovern lost to Nixon, I left the U.S. and lived in Europe and West Africa with my infant son. He is 32 now and works as an Engineer for Amtrak. I have a grandson who just turned six. I help to care for him regularly.

Returning home, in February, 1977, I got a job at A C Transit, driving buses.  The District hadn't hired women as drivers since World War II, but a lawsuit forced them to begin hiring us, and I was among the first women drivers in over 30 years.

I drove for ten years, mostly in Richmond, Berkeley, and Oakland, then took a clerical job in 1987.  In 1993, I ran for President-Business Agent of my union, the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 192, and became the first woman President/Business Agent in its 100-year history. I've been elected four times. My term ends in December 2005.

The Union has been my teacher, formally and informally. I've lobbied successfully in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. for increased funding of transit and to protect transit workers' rights. As President/Business Agent, I've successfully negotiated good contracts for our members.

I believe that transit workers and riders are natural allies, and I look for ways to organize around our common issues. I have pressed for more union involvement with all manner of community organizations, and helped to organize "TransitWorks!", a coalition of transit unions and community organizations.

I am challenging the incumbent because I believe that ALL constituents in the Ward deserve great service.

After 27 years of service I understand how the transit District works. More importantly, I care about the people who ride and who work to provide the service.