Julia Brownley for Congress

Who am I?

I was elected to the Assembly in 2006 to represent Oxnard, the largest city in Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Oak Park and Westlake Village. I've worked on behalf of the residents of Ventura County in part by getting critical funding for CSU Channel Islands, stopping the LNG installation off the coast of Oxnard, working on the restoration of Ormond Beach, and leading the charge to clean-up the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

I am currently serving my fourth year as Chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee, and am the only Assemblymember who serves on every educational committee in the Assembly, including the Committee on Higher Education, Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance, and the State Allocation Board. I also sit on the Select Committee on Ports, the Natural Resources Committee, the full Budget Committee, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the California Commission on the Status of Women, the Select Committee on Improving State Government, and the Select Committee on Domestic Violence.

I'm supported by community leaders includingVentura County Supervisors Steve Bennett and Kathy Long, Congressmembers Lois Capps, Henry Waxman, Karen Bass, Jackie Speier, John Garamendi, and others, former State Senator Jack OConnell, President of the Ventura County School Board Association Kathi Smith, Ventura County Board of Education President Dr. Ramn Flores, Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Mary Ann Rooney, Ventura County Office of Education Director of Curriculum and Instruction Martha Hernandez*, Ventura County Office of Education Migrant Education Program Director Joe Mendoza*, Congress of California Seniors President Hank Lacayo* and many other community leaders. I'm also supported by the Ventura County Firefighters, Oxnard Firefighters, the California Teachers Association and the California League of Conservation Voters.

Governor Jerry Brown has signed seven of my bills, including the Curriculum Support and Reform Act of 2011, landmark legislation that will build creativity, critical thinking and innovation in our schools for generations to come, and legislation to create the State Seal of Biliteracy that sets the standard for multiple language proficiency in California, that will ultimately lead to greater opportunities, both nationally and internationally, for California students with exceptional multiple language skills. Brownley was also the co-author of the California DREAM Act, supported the Farmworker Card Check bill, and currently supports minimum wage increases for hourly workers.

I've received Legislator of the Year awards, the highest honor a legislator can receive, from the California Association for Bilingual Education, the California Council for Adult Education and California Adult Education Administrators Association, the Congress of California Seniors, the California School Boards Association, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the California Federation of Teachers, and by the California League of High Schools. I've also received the 2010 Environmental Champions Award from the Environmental Working Group.

After graduating with a B.A. in political science from George Washington University and earning an M.B.A. from American University, I worked in marketing in private industry before finding my true calling in public service. I reside in Oak Park, keeping in close contact with my son, Fred, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley who has recently been accepted to medical school, and my daughter, Hannah who was a school teacher for several years in Chile and currently resides in Rennes, France.

Why am I running?

I've been an Assemblymember for portions of the district for almost six years, and have been the Chair of the Education committee for most of that time. I'm also the only Assemblymember who sits on every single education committee, so my knowledge of the challenges we face is deep, and my dedication to meeting those challenges is unwavering. Clearly we need the economy to recover more quickly, and that has to be our first priority, but I also feel long term, it's imperative that we make education a national priority, which it currently is not. I believe my experience in education will make me tremendously effective as a representative in Congress in this regard and my background in business will help steer Congress in the right direction toward job creation.

My Goals

Creating jobs for working families and making education a national priority.

My DFA Values

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My Campaign is People Powered!

I have been endorsed by every Democratic club in the district and have solicited their help and support in my campaign and I've hired a great field team who will build a campaign that is supported by the residents of the community. In my most recent fundraising quarter, over 97% of my support came from individuals which I believe is a testament to the "people powered" support my campaign has already garnered.

Voice support

9 people support this campaign.


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