Ira Ruskin
Encyclopedia
Ira Ruskin is an American politician from Redwood City, California
. A Democrat
, he is a former member of the California State Assembly
and of Redwood City Council.
) reside in Redwood City, California. They have no children.
In May 2011 Ruskin told friends he has been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor and withdrawing from the political arena to concentrate on his health.http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_18158119?
Education He received a B.A.
in history from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1968 and an M.A.
in communications (with an emphasis on filmmaking) from Stanford University
in 1983.
. For three of those years (1999 - 2001) he was the Mayor
of Redwood City.
In 2004, Ruskin was elected to the California Assembly. He defeated Republican Steve Poizner
in the general election. Ruskin had local government experience but initially lacked major campaign funding. The Assembly race heated up when Poizner donated $6 million to his campaign. Ruskin began a major fundraising and grassroots effort, which attracted attention from around California
. With the assistance of several of California's public employee unions and massive grassroots support from people throughout the community, Ruskin was able to win the racehttp://www.stanford.edu/class/comm273/Fall2004/rlowe1/Ruskin.html.
In November 2006 Ruskin was re-elected to the California State Assembly by a wide margin of 75,388 votes, 67.4% to his challenger Virginia Chang Kiraly's 36,628 votes, 32.6% http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stasm/2100.htm. He was re-elected to his third Assembly term in 2008.
Term limit
s in California prevented Ruskin from running for re-election in 2010. Ruskin plans to run for a State Senate
seat in 2012http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Termed-out-assemblyman-seeks-Senate-seat-70105312.html.
Ruskin has served on the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (as Chair), the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority, the CalFED ABAG Task Force (as Chair), the Water Management Subcommittee, the Organization of Chinese Americans
, the San Mateo County Advisory Board, the Redwood City Education Foundation, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, San Mateo County Criminal Justice Council, the San Mateo County Joint Powers Authority (for emergency medical response), and the San Mateo County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Advisory Board.
(a Democratic feminist organization) to a man for "excellent work performed on behalf of freedom and equality for women." He helped bring attention to the plight of the Bosnian
Muslim
women in a public forum which included the live transatlantic interview of rape
camp survivors. Ruskin became involved in public policy and politics after working on rape
as a genocidal weapon
in Bosnia
.
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
. 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...
, he is a former 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...
and of Redwood City Council.
Family and Personal Life
Ira and his wife Cheryl (a licensed landscape designerLandscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
) reside in Redwood City, California. They have no children.
In May 2011 Ruskin told friends he has been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor and withdrawing from the political arena to concentrate on his health.http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_18158119?
Education He received a B.A.
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...
in history from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1968 and an M.A.
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...
in communications (with an emphasis on filmmaking) from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1983.
Political career
From 1995 to 2004, Ruskin was a member of the Redwood City CouncilRedwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
. For three of those years (1999 - 2001) he was the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Redwood City.
In 2004, Ruskin was elected to the California Assembly. He defeated Republican Steve Poizner
Steve Poizner
Stephen Leo "Steve" Poizner is an American businessman/entrepreneur and conservative Republican politician, who was elected State Insurance Commissioner of California in November 2006, and concluded the 4 year term in January 2011...
in the general election. Ruskin had local government experience but initially lacked major campaign funding. The Assembly race heated up when Poizner donated $6 million to his campaign. Ruskin began a major fundraising and grassroots effort, which attracted attention from around 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...
. With the assistance of several of California's public employee unions and massive grassroots support from people throughout the community, Ruskin was able to win the racehttp://www.stanford.edu/class/comm273/Fall2004/rlowe1/Ruskin.html.
In November 2006 Ruskin was re-elected to the California State Assembly by a wide margin of 75,388 votes, 67.4% to his challenger Virginia Chang Kiraly's 36,628 votes, 32.6% http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stasm/2100.htm. He was re-elected to his third Assembly term in 2008.
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 in California prevented Ruskin from running for re-election in 2010. Ruskin plans to run for a 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...
seat in 2012http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Termed-out-assemblyman-seeks-Senate-seat-70105312.html.
Ruskin has served on the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (as Chair), the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority, the CalFED ABAG Task Force (as Chair), the Water Management Subcommittee, the Organization of Chinese Americans
Organization of Chinese Americans
Founded in 1973, the Organization of Chinese Americans is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States...
, the San Mateo County Advisory Board, the Redwood City Education Foundation, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, San Mateo County Criminal Justice Council, the San Mateo County Joint Powers Authority (for emergency medical response), and the San Mateo County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Advisory Board.
Awards
Ruskin was the recipient of the first-ever award from DAWNDawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
(a Democratic feminist organization) to a man for "excellent work performed on behalf of freedom and equality for women." He helped bring attention to the plight of the Bosnian
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
women in a public forum which included the live transatlantic interview of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
camp survivors. Ruskin became involved in public policy and politics after working on rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
as a genocidal weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
.
External links
- Ira Ruskin Political History
- Smart Voter
- Smart Voter Biography
- Poizner finally concedes to Ruskin
- Ruskin, 1; $4 Million, 0 The Cardinal Inquirer, Nov. 3, 2004