Barbara Alby is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 politician from California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 and a member of the Republican Party

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. She first sought elective office in 1991, running in a special election for the Sacramento-based 5th district in the California State Assembly

California State Assembly

The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...

. She lost that race to fellow Republican B. T. Collins

B. T. Collins

Brien Thomas "B. T." Collins was an American politician from California and a member of the Republican party.-Early years:...

, onetime chief of staff to Democratic former Gov. Jerry Brown

Jerry Brown

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...

, and lost to him again in the 1992 Republican primary. After Collins died, Alby won a 1993 special election to succeed him and occupied the Assembly seat until 1998 when term limits forced her from office. That year, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

, attempting to succeed veteran Democrat Vic Fazio in the Sacramento-based 3rd district. Alby lost the Republican primary to businessman Doug Ose

Doug Ose

Douglas Arlo "Doug" Ose is a former California congressman who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005, representing California's 3rd Congressional District...

 by 20 points.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Alby dropped out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...

 and went on welfare

Welfare

Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...

 until her benefits were cut.

Later, Alby assumed the position of chief deputy to Board of Equalization

State Board of Equalization (California)

The State Board of Equalization is a public agency charged with tax administration and fee collection in the state of California in the United States. The areas of authority of the Board fall into four broad areas: sales and use taxes, property taxes, special taxes, and acting as an appellate body...

 Member Bill Leonard

Bill Leonard

William R. Leonard is a Republican U.S. politician who served as a member of the California State Board of Equalization from 2002 until his resignation in March 2010.-Life and career:After earning his B.A...

. She occupied that post until Leonard resigned in March 2010, at which point she became the Acting Board Member for the seat—during the middle of the period for candidates to file paperwork to appear on the ballot to fill the Board seat in the June primary election

Primary election

A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....

, so with just days for candidates to qualify to appear on the ballot, Leonard enabled Alby to run as "Acting Board Member" on the ballot.

During the June 2010 primary election, Alby became embroiled in controversy when the Capitol Weekly newspaper revealed that Indian casinos

Native American gambling enterprises

Native American gaming enterprises are gaming businesses operated on Indian reservations or tribal land in the United States. Indian tribes have limited sovereignty over these businesses and therefore are granted the ability to establish gambling enterprises outside of direct state...

 had spent nearly $200,000 on Alby's behalf in the election. Beside Indian casinos, the largest contributors to Alby's campaign were Alby herself, Senator Roy Ashburn

Roy Ashburn

Roy Arthur Ashburn is an American politician from Kern County, California. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator from 2002 to 2010 representing the 18th district. He previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 32nd district and 12 years on the...

, and Bill Leonard, her former boss.

Alby resigned as acting Board of Equalization member on December 31, 2010 and will be succeeded by acting Member Sean Wallentine

Sean Wallentine

Sean Wallentine is a Republican former acting Member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing the 2nd District, holding office for three days from Friday, December 31, 2010 to Monday, January 3, 2011...

 on December 31st as part of the transition to George Runner

George Runner

George C. Runner, Jr. is the Republican Board Member for District 2 of the five-member California Board of Equalization ....

's inauguration in January 2011.