Christine Kehoe
Encyclopedia
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. She was previously a member of the California State Assembly
(2000–2004) and of San Diego City Council (1993–2000).
. She earned a bachelor's degree from University at Albany, The State University of New York
in 1977. She became active in politics in 1978 as a volunteer with the Center for Women's Studies and Services. In 1980, Senator Kehoe was San Diego County's chair for the campaign to defeat the Lyndon LaRouche AIDS discrimination initiative. She was editor of San Diego Gayzette during 1984–1986, coordinator of the San Diego AIDS Assistance Fund 1987–1988, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association 1988–1989, and a city council aide during 1989–1992.
Kehoe, who is a lesbian
, is a strong supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians
. A former chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus
, she is one of four openly LGBT
members of the California State Legislature
, alongside Senator Mark Leno
(D–San Francisco
) and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano
(D–San Francisco) and John Pérez
(D–Los Angeles
).
from 2000 to 2004. She was the city's first openly gay elected official. In 1998, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 49th Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray
, but was defeated.
As City Councilmember, she facilitated a decrease in crime in her district by initiating a public/private partnership that built a center housing a library, theater and Head Start classrooms, in addition to other community services. She was also instrumental in the construction of Interstate 15 after multiple delays.
in 2000, winning the primary election
unopposed and the general election with 61 percent of the vote. She was re-elected without difficulty in 2002.
Kehoe was elected Assembly Speaker pro Tempore, the Assembly's second highest-ranking position. She is the second woman to hold the post.
in 2004 to succeed Dede Alpert in the 39th district. Alpert was termed out in 2004 after eight years in the State Senate.
The district includes the San Diego County
communities of City Heights, Clairemont, Del Mar, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Hillcrest, Kearny Mesa, La Jolla, Lemon Grove, Linda Vista, Mira Mesa, Mission Beach, Mission Hills, Mission Valley, Normal Heights, North Park, Ocean Beach, Old Town, Pacific Beach and Valencia Park.
She was re-elected in 2008.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. 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 has served since 2004 as a member 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...
representing the 39th district. 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...
(2000–2004) and of San Diego City Council (1993–2000).
Early life and activism
Kehoe was born in 1950 in Troy, New YorkTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
. She earned a bachelor's degree from University at Albany, The State University of New York
University at Albany, The State University of New York
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
in 1977. She became active in politics in 1978 as a volunteer with the Center for Women's Studies and Services. In 1980, Senator Kehoe was San Diego County's chair for the campaign to defeat the Lyndon LaRouche AIDS discrimination initiative. She was editor of San Diego Gayzette during 1984–1986, coordinator of the San Diego AIDS Assistance Fund 1987–1988, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association 1988–1989, and a city council aide during 1989–1992.
Kehoe, who is a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, is a strong supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. A former chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus
California Legislative LGBT Caucus
The California Legislative LGBT Caucus is an American political organization formed in June 2002 and composed of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the California State Legislature...
, she is one of four openly LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
members 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...
, alongside Senator Mark Leno
Mark 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...
(D–San Francisco
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...
) and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano is an American politician and LGBT rights activist from San Francisco, California. Ammiano is a Democrat who has served as a member of the California State Assembly since 2008, representing the 13th district...
(D–San Francisco) and John Pérez
John Pérez
John A. Pérez is a union organizer and politician from Los Angeles, California, who has been the Speaker of the California State Assembly since March 1, 2010. A Democrat, he represents the 46th district in the California State Assembly.-Early life and career:Pérez grew up in El Sereno and Highland...
(D–Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
).
City Council
Kehoe represented San Diego's 3rd City Council District from 1993 to 2000, and the 76th District in the California State AssemblyCalifornia 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 2000 to 2004. She was the city's first openly gay elected official. In 1998, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 49th Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray
Brian Bilbray
Brian Phillip Bilbray is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2006, and previously for the 49th district from 1995 to 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. Bilbray is Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus and a member of the influential...
, but was defeated.
As City Councilmember, she facilitated a decrease in crime in her district by initiating a public/private partnership that built a center housing a library, theater and Head Start classrooms, in addition to other community services. She was also instrumental in the construction of Interstate 15 after multiple delays.
State Assembly
Kehoe was first elected to the California State AssemblyCalifornia 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 2000, winning the 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....
unopposed and the general election with 61 percent of the vote. She was re-elected without difficulty in 2002.
Kehoe was elected Assembly Speaker pro Tempore, the Assembly's second highest-ranking position. She is the second woman to hold the post.
State Senate
After two terms in the Assembly, Kehoe ran for the California State SenateCalifornia 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...
in 2004 to succeed Dede Alpert in the 39th district. Alpert was termed out in 2004 after eight years in the State Senate.
The district includes the San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
communities of City Heights, Clairemont, Del Mar, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Hillcrest, Kearny Mesa, La Jolla, Lemon Grove, Linda Vista, Mira Mesa, Mission Beach, Mission Hills, Mission Valley, Normal Heights, North Park, Ocean Beach, Old Town, Pacific Beach and Valencia Park.
She was re-elected in 2008.