Deborah Ortiz
Encyclopedia
Deborah V. Ortiz is an American politician from Sacramento, California
. A Democrat
, she served in both chambers of the California State Legislature
. A then-member of Sacramento City Council, Ortiz was elected to the California State Assembly
in 1996 and served a single two-year term representing the 9th Assembly district
. In 1998, she was elected to the California State Senate
from the 6th Senate district
with 55% of the vote and won re-election in 2002 with 70.8% of the vote. Term limit
s prevented her from seeking a third Senate term in 2006; she instead ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State. Currently she is serving as Vice President of Policy at the California Primary Care Association.
and as a leader at the Latino Coalition for Fair Sacramento Redistricting.
Ortiz had also served on the Sacramento County Planning Commission, the Oak Park Project Area Committee and the UC Davis Medical Center Community Advisory Board.
, a former Mayor of Sacramento was vacating due to term limits. In the Democratic primary, she faced County Supervisor Roger Dickinson and Bill Camp. In a three-way race, Ortiz defeated Dickinson and Camp by over 50%. Ortiz was easily elected in the November general election against token opposition.
Ortiz is well known for authoring the California Freedom of Access to Clinic and Church Entrances Act (or California FACE Act) and the Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act in 2001. Passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Davis, the law protects reproductive health care clients, providers and assistants and also worshipers and places of worship. Motivated by attacks on abortion patients, providers, clinics, and clinic escorts, it targets crimes, not First Amendment-protected speech.
She also authored laws that required criminal background checks for school employees after the death of Michelle Montoya at Rio Linda High School. Michelle Montoya was brutally raped and murdered on a school campus by a janitor that had been released from prison for manslaughter. Montoya was the daughter of a friend of Ortiz.
Ortiz also passed laws to create funding for ovarian cancer research and laws to assure access to emergency contraception.
. However, Ortiz lost the June 6, 2006 Democratic primary to fellow State Senator Debra Bowen
(D-Marina del Rey) who ended up defeating McPherson in November.
. She is currently serving as Vice President of Policy at the California Primary Care Association.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she served in both chambers of the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
. A then-member of Sacramento City Council, Ortiz was elected to 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...
in 1996 and served a single two-year term representing the 9th Assembly district
California's 9th State Assembly district
California's 9th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly, currently represented by Democrat Roger Dickinson of Sacramento.-District profile:The 9th district's current boundaries were established in 2001...
. In 1998, she was elected to 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 the 6th Senate district
California's 6th State Senate district
California's 6th State Senate district is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento.-District profile:...
with 55% of the vote and won re-election in 2002 with 70.8% of the vote. Term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s prevented her from seeking a third Senate term in 2006; she instead ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State. Currently she is serving as Vice President of Policy at the California Primary Care Association.
Election
Ortiz was first elected to public office in a special election in 1993 when she was elected to the Sacramento City Council. She took the seat of Joe Serna who had been elected Mayor of Sacramento in November 1992. Prior to that she had served as Chief of Staff to then State Assemblyman Richard PolancoRichard Polanco
Richard G. Polanco is a former California State Senate Majority leader and member of the California State Assembly. He is known for his significant efforts in increasing Latino representation in the California Legislature.-Background:...
and as a leader at the Latino Coalition for Fair Sacramento Redistricting.
Ortiz had also served on the Sacramento County Planning Commission, the Oak Park Project Area Committee and the UC Davis Medical Center Community Advisory Board.
Accomplishments
Ortiz was known as a major advocate for Oak Park, the neighborhood where she lived and was raised in. Oak Park had a long history as one of the most blighted and crime ridden neighborhoods in the entire city. In 1995, Ortiz managed to have US Bank open the first new bank in Oak Park in thirty years. She was also successful in bringing a full sized grocery store to the area.1996 Assembly bid
After nearly four years on the city council, Ortiz decided to run for the Assembly seat that Phil IsenbergPhillip Isenberg
Phillip L. Isenberg served in the California State Assembly from 1882 to 1896. He represented the city of Sacramento and surrounding areas. Prior to his service in the Assembly, he was mayor of Sacramento from 1975 until 1982...
, a former Mayor of Sacramento was vacating due to term limits. In the Democratic primary, she faced County Supervisor Roger Dickinson and Bill Camp. In a three-way race, Ortiz defeated Dickinson and Camp by over 50%. Ortiz was easily elected in the November general election against token opposition.
Legislative issues
Ortiz focused on health and education and passed the first law in the nation protecting embryonic stem cell research. She was the first legislator to ban sodas from schools, created the California Biomonitoring Program and created the California Department of Public Health. Ortiz also authored the historic Cal Grant Scholarship Program that guarantees college grants for poor and working class students who attend California schools. Major issues that Ortiz fought for while in the legislature included stem cell research, and obesity prevention.Ortiz is well known for authoring the California Freedom of Access to Clinic and Church Entrances Act (or California FACE Act) and the Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act in 2001. Passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Davis, the law protects reproductive health care clients, providers and assistants and also worshipers and places of worship. Motivated by attacks on abortion patients, providers, clinics, and clinic escorts, it targets crimes, not First Amendment-protected speech.
She also authored laws that required criminal background checks for school employees after the death of Michelle Montoya at Rio Linda High School. Michelle Montoya was brutally raped and murdered on a school campus by a janitor that had been released from prison for manslaughter. Montoya was the daughter of a friend of Ortiz.
Ortiz also passed laws to create funding for ovarian cancer research and laws to assure access to emergency contraception.
2006 bid for Secretary of State
Ortiz was termed out of office in 2006 having served two terms in the Senate. Thus, she decided to run for Secretary of State against incumbent Bruce McPhersonBruce McPherson
Bruce A. McPherson is a California politician who was the 30th California Secretary of State, sworn in March 30, 2005. He was nominated to replace former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who resigned on March 4. McPherson, a Republican from Santa Cruz County, served his term as Secretary until...
. However, Ortiz lost the June 6, 2006 Democratic primary to fellow State Senator Debra Bowen
Debra Bowen
Debra Lynn Bowen , a member of the Democratic Party, has been Secretary of State of California since January 8, 2007. Before that she was a member of the California State Legislature from 1992 to 2006. In March 2008, she was given the Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Presidential...
(D-Marina del Rey) who ended up defeating McPherson in November.
Personal
Ortiz was born and raised in the Oak Park neighborhood of the City of Sacramento. Ortiz received her undergraduate degree from UC Davis and her law degree from McGeorge School of LawMcGeorge School of Law
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law is a private, ABA approved law school in the Oak Park neighborhood of the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the University of the Pacific....
. She is currently serving as Vice President of Policy at the California Primary Care Association.