Ellen Corbett Explained

State Senate:California State
District:10th
Term Start:December 4, 2006
Term End:November 30, 2014
Predecessor:Liz Figueroa
Successor:Bob Wieckowski
Office2:Majority Leader of the California Senate
Term Start2:December 6, 2010
Term End2:November 30, 2014
Predecessor2:Dean Florez
Successor2:Bill Monning
State Assembly3:California
District3:18th
Term Start3:December 7, 1998
Term End3:November 30, 2004
Predecessor3:Michael Sweeney
Successor3:Johan Klehs
Office4:Mayor of San Leandro
Term4:1994–1998
Birth Date:31 December 1954
Birth Place:Oakland, California, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Children:1
Residence:San Leandro
Education:University of California, Davis (BS)
University of the Pacific (JD)

Ellen Marie Corbett (December 31, 1954 – August 9, 2024) was an American Democratic politician from the San Francisco Bay Area. She served in the California State Senate, representing the 10th District, which included San Leandro, Hayward, Pleasanton, Union City, Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, and part of San Jose. She was the Senate Majority Leader.

Ellen Corbett was elected to the California State Assembly in the 1998, and served there until 2004, when she was termed out. Previously, she served on the San Leandro City Council and was the first woman in the city's history directly elected as Mayor, serving as Mayor of San Leandro from 1994 to 1998. Corbett has also worked as an attorney, community college professor and civic activist.[1] In 2016, Corbett was elected as a board member of the East Bay Regional Park District.[2] [3]

Corbett attended Chabot Community College and California State University, East Bay, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis and a Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge Law School.[4]

Senate 10th District

The 10th District encompasses the southern part of the East Bay, located directly south of California's 9th State Senate district. As such, it includes the southern half of Alameda County and a portion of Santa Clara County.

2011 redistricting

After redistricting in 2011 by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the new 10th district now includes 40.7% of Alameda County and 17.4% of Santa Clara County. Cities in the district include Fremont, Hayward, Milpitas, and Santa Clara. The new boundaries took effect for the 2014 election for the district, in which Corbett was ineligible to run in due to term limits.

2014 US Congressional elections

See main article: United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2014. Corbett termed out of the State Senate seat in 2014. In February 2013, addressing the possibility of her running for Eric Swalwell's seat in the US House of Representatives 15th congressional district, Corbett said "I would be honored to serve in [the United States] Congress, but it’s too early to discuss 2014."[5]

After the 2013 legislative session, Corbett began campaigning against Swalwell, with the support of Pete Stark, whom Swalwell defeated in 2012.[6] However, she finished in third place, missing a general election slot by 0.5% to Republican Hugh Bussell, a technology manager/educator from Livermore. Swalwell lead the primary with almost 50 percent of the vote, winning nearly 70 percent against Bussell in the November general election.

Legislative positions

Corbett passed legislation to provide students with more information on student loan options, provide safeguards for car purchasers, and protect California homeowners who suffered during the nationwide housing crisis.[1]

She received an 87% rating from Clean Water Action California in 2012, and a 99% lifetime rating from the California League of Conservation Voters.[7]

Corbett publicly advocated for restoring of full funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the 2012 U.S. Farm Bill, which had proposed cuts to the program.[8]

Legislative honors

In 2008, Corbett was named one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California and an Outstanding Legislator by the California State Sheriff’s Association.[9] She received honors from the California Labor Federation, the Consumer Federation of California, the American Cancer Society, the California Congress of Seniors, the Sierra Club of California,[10] the Environmental Working Group, the California League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action California, and the Hindu American Foundation.[11]

Personal life and death

Corbett lived in San Leandro, California,[12] and died August 9, 2024, at the age of 69.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography | Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett . Sd10.senate.ca.gov . 2013-06-21.
  2. News: Alameda: Environmentalist Siden retires from East Bay parks board. 2017-01-04. East Bay Times. 2018-09-05. en-US.
  3. Web site: Ward 4 - Ellen Corbett . 2024-01-01 . East Bay Parks . en.
  4. Web site: UC Santa Cruz | Advocacy, Community, and Government Relations . Santacruz.www.ucforcalifornia.org . 1954-12-31 . 2013-06-21.
  5. Web site: Potential House rivals to share podium at dinner . 2013-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130315051700/http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/category/sacramento/california-state-senate/ellen-corbett/ . 2013-03-15 . dead .
  6. Web site: Stark's Revenge: Bad Blood Lingers with Former Foe. 20 November 2013.
  7. Web site: Senator Ellen Corbett Political Summary - Project Vote Smart . Votesmart.org . 2013-06-21.
  8. Web site: Ellen M. Corbett: Congress must restore food aid to poor Americans. 4 July 2012.
  9. http://www.ccda.ca.gov/EllenBio.htm Commissioner Senator Ellen Corbett
  10. http://sd10.senate.ca.gov/biography Biography, Senator Ellen M. Corbett
  11. Web site: Environment | Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett . Sd10.senate.ca.gov . 2013-06-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130719210611/http://sd10.senate.ca.gov/environment . 2013-07-19 .
  12. Web site: EBRPD - Board of Directors. www.ebparks.org. en. 2018-09-05.
  13. News: Former San Leandro legislator, mayor Ellen Corbett dies . Kate . Talerico . August 10, 2024 . . . August 11, 2024.