Calif installs 1st black female legislative leader

Published: 5/13/08, 9:07 PM EDT
By SAMANTHA YOUNG
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California on Tuesday installed the nation's first black female legislative leader, swearing in Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass as speaker of the state Assembly.
Bass said at the ceremony that she feels the weight of history on her shoulders.
"If we could only harness the power of our common humanity, I don't think there's anything we couldn't do for the people of this state," she said.
The 54-year-old becomes the 67th speaker, succeeding fellow Los Angeles Democrat Fabian Nunez. He is relinquishing the post at the end of the year because of term limits.
Bass was a physician's assistant before being elected to the Assembly in 2004 and is known for writing legislation on child welfare and social justice issues. As speaker, she will hold what is regarded as the second most powerful post in state government behind the governor. [To view the entire story, go to: http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7401&eeid=5873383&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=-2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt ]

California Assembly Elects Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass as the Next Speaker

SPEAKER FABIAN NUÑEZ
46TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: February 28, 2008
Contact: Beth Willon Phone: (916) 319-2408 or (916) 524-6537

Speaker-elect is First African-American Woman to Hold Post in the Nation

SACRAMENTO –The California Assembly today elected Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass its 67th Speaker, catapulting an African-American woman to the post for the first time.
“The wisdom of the Caucus is going to break the glass ceiling, to say, finally we’re going to elect a Democratic woman to be the Speaker of the California Assembly,” Speaker Fabian Núñez said. “We are going to not only write a new chapter in California history, but I’ve been told we’re going to write a new chapter in American history by electing the first African-American woman in the history of this nation to be the Speaker of a state legislative body.”
“The Assembly will have an orderly transition of leadership, and that is because we have been incredibly fortunate to have had consistent leadership from the current Speaker,” Speaker-elect Bass said. “I look forward to our caucus uniting in the effort to address the current fiscal crisis and the other challenges and opportunities that we will face together and we will solve together in California.”
Speaker-elect Bass was elected to California’s 80-member Assembly chamber in 2004 quickly rising to the post of Democratic Majority Leader three years later. She will work in tandem with Speaker Núñez as she makes the transition into her new position.
The Los Angeles Democrat will be the first African-American woman Speaker and the first woman to hold the position for a full term. Republican Doris Allen served from June 5, 1995 to September 14, 1995.
Here are links to audio of Speaker Núñez and Speaker-elect Bass:
Speaker Fabian Núñez nominating speech on the Assembly floor. (4:58)
Nat sound of actual voice vote electing Bass as the next Speaker. (:15)
Speaker-elect Karen Bass acceptance speech on the Assembly floor. (1:50)
Speaker Fabian Núñez introduces Speaker-elect Karen Bass to capitol press corp at news conference. (2:16)
Speaker-elect Karen Bass opening statement at news conference. (1:02)
Speaker-elect Karen Bass answers a question about her being the only female in the Big 5 and being a woman in a male dominated building. (:23)
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Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento, CA 94249-0046 -- (916) 319-2046 -- Fax: (916) 319-2146
District Office: 320 West Fourth Street, #1050, Los Angeles, CA 90013 -- (213) 620-4646 -- Fax (213) 620-6319
Assemblymember.Nunez@assembly.ca.gov