| Patricia Kernighan | |
| Birth Place: | Eastern Washington |
| Residence: | Oakland, California |
| Office1: | Member of the Oakland City Council from District 2 |
| Successor1: | Abel J. Guillen |
| Txerm Start1: | 2005 |
| Term End: | 2014 |
| Predecessor1: | Danny Wan |
| Spouse: | Paul Gordon |
| Children: | 2 |
| Alma Mater: | University of Washington University of California, Hastings College of the Law |
| Website: | PatKernighan.com |
Patricia (Pat) Kernighan, a politician and a lawyer, was a District 2 city council member in Oakland, California until 2014, noted for her advocacy of instant run-off voting in city elections.
Kerninghan, a native of rural Eastern Washington state, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences in 1973 from the University of Washington and a law degree in 1977 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[1] [2] [3]
In Seattle, Washington, while a college student in the 1970s, Kernighan was a member of the Feminist Coordinating Council, an organization that proposed a city ordinance to establish a commission on crimes against women and a protection unit.[4]
She was admitted to the California State Bar in December 1977.
She was a legislative aide to Councilmember John Russo and later was chief of staff to Councilmember Danny Wan from 2000 until his resignation in 2005.[5]
She was elected to the Oakland City Council in 2005 and reelected in a 2006 election against challenger Aimee Allison.[6] In 2010, she defeated Jen Pae to win a third term.[7] [8]
Abel J. Guillen succeeded Kernighan in 2014.[9]
In 2006, Kernighan co-authored a measure to implement instant-runoff voting in Oakland,[10] [11] and voters approved the measure in November 2006.[12] [13] Oakland began using the voting system in its November 2010 elections for mayor, three city council races and four other local offices.[14]
Kernighan co-authored a measure to fund major park renovations around Oakland's Lake Merritt. The measure passed in 2002.[15] [16]
She is married to Paul Gordon and has two grown daughters.
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