Karen Bass Elected First Black Woman Speaker of California Assembly

The California State Assembly unanimously elected Karen Bass as the new Assembly Speaker last week. Bass is the first African American and the first women to hold the position. She has served in the California state legislature since 2004 and was the Assembly Majority leader before winning the Speaker position.

An active feminist, Bass is expected to be a strong advocate for education and healthcare, reports the Santa Monica Mirror. She has served as a trustee for Santa Monica’s New Roads School, and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

"As a physician assistant (PA), Bass will bring a unique perspective to health care policy...[She] is a shining light in the California Assembly," said the AAPA in a statement (PDF).

"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," said Bass, according to the Santa Monica Mirror.

Media Resources: Feminist Majority; AAPA Statement 2/29/08; Santa Monica Mirror Vol 9 Issue 39

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