Gloria Romero (politician)
Gloria Romero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Majority Leader of the California Senate | |
| In office 2001–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Polanco |
| Succeeded by | Dean Florez |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 24th district | |
| In office 2001–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Hilda Solis |
| Succeeded by | Edward Hernández |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 49th district | |
| In office 1998–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Diane Martinez |
| Succeeded by | Judy Chu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 10, 1955 Barstow, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | California State University, Long Beach University of California, Riverside |
| Profession | Professor, politician |
Gloria J. Romero (born July 10, 1955) is active in the charter school industry in California, a former California State Senator and the Democratic majority leader of the California State Senate from 2001 until 2008. She was the first woman to ever hold that leadership position.
Early life and career[edit]
Romero grew up in Barstow, one of six children. Her father worked in the railroad yards and her mother, who left school after sixth grade, stayed home and raised the kids. Romero received her associate's degree from Barstow Community College before going on to earn a B.A. and an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Riverside.
She taught as a professor at state universities and served as a trustee and vice president of the board of trustees of Los Angeles Community College District.[citation needed]
Legislative career[edit]
She was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 and to the Senate in 2001. Romero represented the 24th district, which included East Los Angeles, portions of the city of Los Angeles, as well as a major part of the San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, City of Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina and Whittier.
In 2008, Romero stepped down as Majority Leader and became chairman of the Education Committee.[1] In that position she authored and guided to passage a fiercely contested[2] ‘parent trigger’ law which allows a majority of parents in a failing school to vote on a method to restructure the school.[3]
Romero was term-limited in 2010.[1]
As a public university professor in California, she is a member of the California Faculty Association.[citation needed]
Campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction[edit]
Following U.S. Representative Hilda Solis's December 2008 selection to become U.S. Secretary of Labor by President-elect Barack Obama (and expected subsequent confirmation), Romero indicated strong interest in running in the special election for California's 32nd congressional district to replace her,[4] but later chose to run for the nonpartisan California State Superintendent of Public Instruction instead.[5] Romero was supported by advocates of charter schools, while her two major opponents were supported by teachers unions and school administrators, respectively.[6][7][8] Eventually, Romero finished third, receiving 17.0% of the vote in a crowded 12-person field.[9]
Education reform[edit]
Romero led the California chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, a reform wing of the Democratic Party supporting parental school choice. In the 2012 election, she supported California's Prop. 32 that would bar unions from withholding money from worker paychecks to finance political activities.[1] She founded Scholarship Prep Charter School, which enrolls TK-8th grade students in low income communities.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Finley, Allysia, "Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer", Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
- ^ Libby, Ken, "How to Buy a Candidate: Gloria Romero for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction", SchoolsMatter blog, March 08, 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
- ^ O'Connor, John, "Q & A: Gloria Romero, Author Of California’s ‘Parent Trigger’ Law", StateImpact (local public media and NPR), February 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
- ^ Morain, Dan (December 18, 2008). "Obama's pick of Hilda Solis for Labor prompts some to eye her House seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
- ^ Larrubia, Evelyn (January 8, 2009). "Gloria Romero will not seek congressional seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- ^ Dan Smith and Torey Van Oot (June 2, 2010). "The Buzz: Money, endorsements rolling in to replace California schools chief". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ Patrick Range McDonald (June 3, 2010). "Gloria Romero's Race to the Top". LA Weekly. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ Patrick Range McDonald (June 8, 2010). "Special Interests Spend Heavily on California Superintendent of Public Instruction Race". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ "Secretary of State June 8, 2010 Primary Election--Superintendent of Public Education - Statewide Results". Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
External links[edit]
- Democrats for Education Reform Official web site.
- Ballotpedia web site - Gloria Romero
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Polanco |
California State Senate Majority Leader 2001–2008 |
Succeeded by Dean Florez |
| Preceded by Hilda Solis |
California State Senator 24th district 2001–2010 |
Succeeded by Edward Hernández |
| Preceded by Diane Martinez |
California State Assemblymember, 49th district 1998–2001 |
Succeeded by Judy Chu |
- California state senators
- California State University, Long Beach alumni
- Living people
- Members of the California State Assembly
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- American academics of Mexican descent
- People from Barstow, California
- University of California, Riverside alumni
- 1955 births
- Women state legislators in California
- Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
- Education activists
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians