In celebration of Women’s History Month, PPIC president and CEO Tani Cantil-Sakauye talked last week with four women representing diverse constituencies in the California Legislature about the importance of leadership and their top priorities for the year ahead.
Cantil-Sakauye opened the discussion by highlighting the dramatic increase in women legislators over the past decade: “California’s legislature this year includes a record-high number of women. We now account for nearly half of legislators, double the share a mere eight years ago.”
Assembly majority leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who has represented Napa, Lake, Colusa, and part of Sonoma County for the past eight years, underlined the importance of the Women’s Caucus in boosting the number of women leaders: “We were intentional about getting as many women to run as possible.” She also noted that the Women’s Caucus is the only nonpartisan caucus in the legislature: “We don’t always agree, but I think women come together and collaborate. We want to make sure we move the state forward and not leave anyone behind.”
For Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, a second-term state senator who represents Riverside and San Bernadino Counties, adding a woman’s voice to the legislature is a key motivation. “I take a very ‘mother’ approach to governance,” she said. “At home, we want everybody to get along, we want everything to be fair, and I think when it comes to issues in our state, it’s the same way. You want to make sure everyone has a voice.”
What are some top priorities for these women leaders? Although issues such as childcare and some aspects of public safety—such as domestic violence prevention—do seem to be especially important for women lawmakers, it is also true that, as Aguiar-Curry noted, “every issue is a women’s issue.”
Catherine Stefani, a newly elected assemblymember who represents western San Francisco and northern San Mateo Counties, is “very focused” on public safety, partly because of her family history. “My mom’s second marriage was filled with domestic violence,” she said. “I saw a lot as a kid, so I’ve been very focused on helping women that are abused.” A former prosecutor, Stefani is working on a range of public safety issues, including gun safety measures, human trafficking, and “making sure that restitution comes first for victims.”
A key priority for newly elected Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo—who represents Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties—is addressing water and other infrastructure issues in the Central Valley. “I grew up on my family’s dairy farm, so I have lived the challenges that agriculture is facing,” she added. “So my big fight is going to be for water. But not just for agriculture. It’s also for rural areas that are suffering because we don’t have quality drinking water.”
When it comes to issues—such as immigration policy—that have a huge impact on California but are largely handled by the federal government, the key is to focus on what can be done at the state level, panelists noted. In the context of media headlines about mass deportations, for example, Macedo has been engaging directly with her community. “People were not showing up to work in the Central Valley because they were worried about raids,” she said. “I immediately took to meeting with farmworker groups, contract laborers, farmers, and provided them with resources so they knew their rights.”
While they represent diverse constituencies, these women leaders agree that the best way to address any challenge is by working collaboratively. “We can only benefit from having more voices at the table,” said Ochoa Bogh.
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PPIC’s Speaker Series on California’s Future invites thought leaders and changemakers with diverse perspectives to participate critically, constructively, and collaboratively in public conversations. The purpose is to give Californians a better understanding of how our leaders are addressing the challenges facing our state.
PPIC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. PPIC does not take or support positions on any ballot measure or on any local, state, or federal legislation, nor does it support, endorse, or oppose any political parties or candidates for public office. Any opinions expressed by event participants are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect any position of the Public Policy Institute of California.
