Carole Migden
Encyclopedia
Carole Migden is an American politician from San Francisco, California
who represented the third district
of the California State Senate
from 2004 to 2008 and the 13th district of the California State Assembly
from 1996 to 2002.
Migden's former district, the 3rd Senate district, includes parts of San Francisco, Sonoma County, and Marin County. She was previously a member of the California State Assembly
(1996–2002) and Chairwoman of the California Board of Equalization (2002–2004), the nation's only publicly elected tax commission. Prior to that, she had served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
(1991–1996). She also chaired the San Francisco Democratic Party for eight years and is a member of the Democratic National Committee
.
Migden was the Chairperson of California Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee and the Chairperson of the Senate Majority Caucus. She was previously the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair. She was, at the time, the only openly lesbian state legislator from Northern California (Sheila Kuehl
, who served from 2000 to 2008, and Christine Kehoe
, who has served since 2004, are from Southern California).
.
Migden authored the ‘‘Clean Water Act’’ in 1999 that imposed tougher penalties on industrial polluters dumping harmful toxins in California waterways. She also authored the Headwaters Forest and SF Wetlands/Cargill legislation that enabled the state preservation of the ancient Headwaters Forest and restoration of the San Francisco Baylands into a wildlife habitat and recovery of endangered species.
Over the last seven years Migden has authored legislation for domestic partnership in California providing benefits to the LGBT community and unmarried senior citizens. Assembly Bill 26 in 1999 marked the first time in the nation a state legislature passed a domestic partnership statute without forcible intervention of the courts. (Assembly Bill 26).
Migden’s SB 565 provided for the legalization of the transfer of property between domestic partners without reassessment for tax purposes (Senate Bill 565) and provided for the filing of domestic partner income-tax returns under the same status as married couples. (Senate Bill 1827).
In 2005, Migden's SB 663 closed tax loopholes allowing corporate giants to put millions in offshore tax shelters and depleting the state of revenues. (SB 663). Migden has authored legislation to improve foster care that created new programs such as transitional housing, increased savings accounts, and adoption incentives for parents adopting teenagers.
Migden has authored legislation providing for rapid HIV testing (AB 1263), protection of health care workers from needle injuries (AB 1046) and enabling of HIV positive people to have healthy children (SB 443).
In 2002 Migden authored legislation (AB 1860) requiring the state to provide information regarding the “morning after” contraception to female victims of sexual assault.
Staunchly opposed to the war in Iraq, Migden became one of the first critics of the war and passed a Senate resolution making California the first state in the nation to formally oppose the surge of troops in Iraq.
In the fall of 2007 Migden helped resolve a five-year- standoff between Marin county and the state of California regarding property taxes taken by the State and diverted to fund education deficits. With rising property tax values, the state decided to withhold an additional 4 million of county generated tax revenues to pay for programs for troubled children throughout California. Marin officials claimed the state was forcing the county to shoulder an unfair degree of state oriented funding. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
vetoed two bills pushed forward by Migden to resolve the issue. Migden's third bill passed and resulted in cutting the amount of surplus funds the county will annually pay to the state by half. The bill resulted in an extra 1.9 million a year for Marin County and a total return of 24.7 million to the area.
When Migden was chairwoman of the powerful Assembly appropriations committee, which determines whether hundreds of bills live or die, Migden routinely held fundraisers during committee lunch breaks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. When Migden headed the Senate Appropriations Committee, she put her title on a fundraiser invitation. In 2005, Migden pressed the "aye" button on behalf of Guy Houston, a Republican, in the California Assembly of which Migden was no longer a member.
, Migden was born August 14, 1948. Migden is a member of the Jewish faith. Migden has a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Adelphi University
and a Master of Arts
degree from Sonoma State University
.
Cristina Arguedas, a criminal defense attorney and her partner since 1985, in a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
. That marriage was later annulled by the California Supreme Court.
in 1997 (about a year into her first assembly term). She was only expected to live 3–5 years after her diagnosis.
Migden underwent rigorous and difficult chemotherapies for several years before finally becoming a participant in clinical trial which ultimately got FDA approval for Gleevec which has proven to be a watershed cancer drug. She has been in complete remission for several years.
In May 2007, Migden said "I owe an explanation to the public and myself and, in particular, the person I hurt."
On August 10, 2007, Migden entered a no contest, also known as nolo contendre, plea to charges of reckless driving and was found guilty of the May 18, 2007 incident. Migden paid a $710 fine and was sentenced to two years of probation.
In 1996, Migden ran a stop sign by the State Capitol and crashed into a 1990 Dodge Spirit owned by Teresa Latham. The crash injured Latham and destroyed Latham's car. Latham claimed that Migden did not "seem concerned at all about the situation."
. and the National Center for Lesbian Rights' "Lesbian Leadership Award". In 2000, she was recognized with the "Affordable Housing Leadership Award". In 2001, Migden was named "Legislator of the Year" by the California National Organization for Women
.
Migden has received leadership awards from prominent environmental and civil rights organizations. She continuously received high honors in California Journal's annual rankings, including "Quick Study" in 2002.
won the nomination, while Migden finished slightly ahead of former Assemblyman Joe Nation from El Verano
. She was the first legislator to lose a renomination since Assemblyman Brian Setencich
lost his primary race in 1996.
The race was one of the costliest legislative races in the state. Migden came into the race with $647,000 in the bank from past races, but according to the Fair Political Practices Commission
(FPPC), she did not properly transfer campaign funds. The FPPC investigators found 89 violations in campaign finance reporting. The FPPC originally prevented her from using the $647,000 from previous races. On March 6, Migden filed a legal challenge against the FPPC, claiming the FPPC ruling had violated her right to free speech. The FPPC settled the dispute with Migden for a record $350,000 fine. Richie Ross, Migden's campaign consultant, called the issues in the complaint legitimate, saying, "There's no excuse, and she will have to take her legitimate lumps. I know it, and she knows it."
Democratic delegates at the state party convention in March 2008 voted not to endorse Migden 742–298.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
who represented the third district
California's 3rd State Senate district
California's 3rd State Senate District is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Mark Leno of San Francisco.-District profile:...
of the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
from 2004 to 2008 and the 13th district of 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...
from 1996 to 2002.
Migden's former district, the 3rd Senate district, includes parts of San Francisco, Sonoma County, and Marin County. She was previously a member of 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...
(1996–2002) and Chairwoman of the California Board of Equalization (2002–2004), the nation's only publicly elected tax commission. Prior to that, she had served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
(1991–1996). She also chaired the San Francisco Democratic Party for eight years and is a member of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
.
Migden was the Chairperson of California Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee and the Chairperson of the Senate Majority Caucus. She was previously the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair. She was, at the time, the only openly lesbian state legislator from Northern California (Sheila Kuehl
Sheila Kuehl
Sheila James Kuehl is an American politician, and a former child actress. She most recently served as a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the 23rd district in Los Angeles County and parts of southern Ventura County...
, who served from 2000 to 2008, and Christine Kehoe
Christine Kehoe
Christine T. Kehoe is an American politician from San Diego, California. A Democrat, she has served since 2004 as a member of the California State Senate representing the 39th district...
, who has served since 2004, are from Southern California).
State legislature
In the State Assembly, Migden served for five years as Chairwoman of the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. She was the first woman and the first lesbian to chair that committee. She also served for four years as a conferee on the state's Joint Budget Conference Committee, which writes the final version of California's state budget. As a member of the State Assembly, Migden authored legislation to create California's domestic partner registry, promote children's health, preserve the old growth Headwaters Forest, increase accountability in K-12 schools, protect borrowers from predatory and deceptive lending practices, protect consumers from manipulation by energy generators, and promote the use of emergency contraceptionEmergency contraception
Emergency contraception , or emergency postcoital contraception, refers to birth control measures that, if taken after sexual intercourse, may prevent pregnancy.Forms of EC include:...
.
Migden authored the ‘‘Clean Water Act’’ in 1999 that imposed tougher penalties on industrial polluters dumping harmful toxins in California waterways. She also authored the Headwaters Forest and SF Wetlands/Cargill legislation that enabled the state preservation of the ancient Headwaters Forest and restoration of the San Francisco Baylands into a wildlife habitat and recovery of endangered species.
Over the last seven years Migden has authored legislation for domestic partnership in California providing benefits to the LGBT community and unmarried senior citizens. Assembly Bill 26 in 1999 marked the first time in the nation a state legislature passed a domestic partnership statute without forcible intervention of the courts. (Assembly Bill 26).
Migden’s SB 565 provided for the legalization of the transfer of property between domestic partners without reassessment for tax purposes (Senate Bill 565) and provided for the filing of domestic partner income-tax returns under the same status as married couples. (Senate Bill 1827).
In 2005, Migden's SB 663 closed tax loopholes allowing corporate giants to put millions in offshore tax shelters and depleting the state of revenues. (SB 663). Migden has authored legislation to improve foster care that created new programs such as transitional housing, increased savings accounts, and adoption incentives for parents adopting teenagers.
Migden has authored legislation providing for rapid HIV testing (AB 1263), protection of health care workers from needle injuries (AB 1046) and enabling of HIV positive people to have healthy children (SB 443).
In 2002 Migden authored legislation (AB 1860) requiring the state to provide information regarding the “morning after” contraception to female victims of sexual assault.
Staunchly opposed to the war in Iraq, Migden became one of the first critics of the war and passed a Senate resolution making California the first state in the nation to formally oppose the surge of troops in Iraq.
Marin
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
vetoed two bills pushed forward by Migden to resolve the issue. Migden's third bill passed and resulted in cutting the amount of surplus funds the county will annually pay to the state by half. The bill resulted in an extra 1.9 million a year for Marin County and a total return of 24.7 million to the area.
Controversy
Since joining the Senate in 2004, Migden has had three chiefs of staff. Staff members commonly referred to serving under Migden as "combat tours." Migden has been rated the worst member to work for in the Capitol Weekly which conducted a staff survey. The San Francisco Examiner has called Migden "Sacramento's scariest boss." She has been repeatedly reprimanded for her hostile behavior in the state legislature, including verbal attacks on peace officers who are charged with keeping lawmakers safe.When Migden was chairwoman of the powerful Assembly appropriations committee, which determines whether hundreds of bills live or die, Migden routinely held fundraisers during committee lunch breaks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. When Migden headed the Senate Appropriations Committee, she put her title on a fundraiser invitation. In 2005, Migden pressed the "aye" button on behalf of Guy Houston, a Republican, in the California Assembly of which Migden was no longer a member.
Personal life
A native of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Migden was born August 14, 1948. Migden is a member of the Jewish faith. Migden has a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
.
Marriage
In February 2004, she marriedSame-sex marriage in California
The status of same-sex marriage in California is unique among the 50 U.S. states, in that the state formerly granted marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but has discontinued doing so...
Cristina Arguedas, a criminal defense attorney and her partner since 1985, in a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
. That marriage was later annulled by the California Supreme Court.
Leukemia
On May 23, 2007, Migden announced that she was diagnosed with leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1997 (about a year into her first assembly term). She was only expected to live 3–5 years after her diagnosis.
Migden underwent rigorous and difficult chemotherapies for several years before finally becoming a participant in clinical trial which ultimately got FDA approval for Gleevec which has proven to be a watershed cancer drug. She has been in complete remission for several years.
Driving history
On May 18, 2007, Migden was involved in an automobile accident where she crashed her SUV into a sedan, which was stopped at a red light. There were no serious injuries and no citation was written. Migden was given a Breathalyser test, which showed that she was not drunk. Migden claims that she may have suffered from an adverse response to her leukemia treatment that led her to drive erratically. 911 tapes released in August show other drivers who saw her during her 30-mile trip along I-80 were panicking as they reported seeing her hit the center divider, and repeatedly come close to hitting other cars, before finally hitting one. One motorist claimed Migden told her, "You can't talk to me like that. I'm a senator." Migden voluntarily ceased driving as she continued to undergo treatment and as medical tests were pursued.In May 2007, Migden said "I owe an explanation to the public and myself and, in particular, the person I hurt."
On August 10, 2007, Migden entered a no contest, also known as nolo contendre, plea to charges of reckless driving and was found guilty of the May 18, 2007 incident. Migden paid a $710 fine and was sentenced to two years of probation.
In 1996, Migden ran a stop sign by the State Capitol and crashed into a 1990 Dodge Spirit owned by Teresa Latham. The crash injured Latham and destroyed Latham's car. Latham claimed that Migden did not "seem concerned at all about the situation."
Awards
In 1998 Migden was named “Rookie of the year” award by the California Journal. In 1999, Migden received “Legislator of the Year” honors from the California School Employees AssociationCalifornia School Employees Association
The California School Employees Association is the largest labor union in the United States. CSEA represents more than 230,000 public employees in California....
. and the National Center for Lesbian Rights' "Lesbian Leadership Award". In 2000, she was recognized with the "Affordable Housing Leadership Award". In 2001, Migden was named "Legislator of the Year" by the California National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
.
Migden has received leadership awards from prominent environmental and civil rights organizations. She continuously received high honors in California Journal's annual rankings, including "Quick Study" in 2002.
Election 2008
Seeking a second term in the state senate, Migden failed to win renomination in the 2008 primary election held on 2008-06-03. She finished second in a three-way race. Assemblyman Mark LenoMark Leno
Mark Leno is an American politician, representing California's 3rd Senate district, which includes parts of San Francisco and Sonoma County, as well as the entirety of Marin County. He was elected in 2008 and is the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate...
won the nomination, while Migden finished slightly ahead of former Assemblyman Joe Nation from El Verano
El Verano, California
El Verano is a census-designated place in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 4,123 at the 2010 census....
. She was the first legislator to lose a renomination since Assemblyman Brian Setencich
Brian Setencich
Brian Setencich served in the California Assembly for one term from 1994 to 1996 and as Speaker of that body from September 14, 1995 to January 4, 1996. Setencich was the first freshman legislator to serve as Speaker of the Assembly. He was previously a city councilman in Fresno and played...
lost his primary race in 1996.
The race was one of the costliest legislative races in the state. Migden came into the race with $647,000 in the bank from past races, but according to the Fair Political Practices Commission
California Fair Political Practices Commission
SUMMARYThe California Fair Political Practices Commission is the government body that enforces political campaign, lobbying, and conflict of interest laws in the state of California, similar to what the Federal Elections Commission does at the federal level...
(FPPC), she did not properly transfer campaign funds. The FPPC investigators found 89 violations in campaign finance reporting. The FPPC originally prevented her from using the $647,000 from previous races. On March 6, Migden filed a legal challenge against the FPPC, claiming the FPPC ruling had violated her right to free speech. The FPPC settled the dispute with Migden for a record $350,000 fine. Richie Ross, Migden's campaign consultant, called the issues in the complaint legitimate, saying, "There's no excuse, and she will have to take her legitimate lumps. I know it, and she knows it."
Democratic delegates at the state party convention in March 2008 voted not to endorse Migden 742–298.