Lois Wolk
Encyclopedia
Lois Wolk is a California State Senator
, representing the 5th district
of California
. Wolk is a member of the Democratic Party
and was elected to the Senate in 2008.
. She earned a B.A. from Antioch College
in 1968, and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1971. She has taught History, Social Studies and French in grades 7 through 12 in both public and private schools. Wolk lives in Davis, California
with her husband, Bruce Wolk, Professor of Law at UC Davis Law School. They married in 1968 and have two sons, Adam and Dan.
Supervisor
from 1998 to 2002, chairing the Board in 2000.
Wolk was elected to the California State Assembly
in 2002, and won re-election in 2004 and 2006.
Wolk was Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and she served on Assembly Committees on Budget, Local Government, and Natural Resources, as well as the Budget Subcommittee on Transportation and Information Technology. In addition, Wolk served on numerous Select Committees including Biotechnology; California Children’s School Readiness and Health; Domestic Violence; Growth and Infrastructure; Ports; Water, Infrastructure and the Economy; Rural Economic Development; and Wine.
In her five years in the Assembly, Wolk succeeded in authoring 56 new laws. In 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
signed many Wolk-authored bills including legislation to improve flood protection in flood-prone areas of California’s Central Valley; improve safety on a treacherous stretch of State Highway 12; require more planning for state parks and recreation opportunities for the Central Valley; and provide the Department of Fish and Game with the authority to control highly invasive species that threaten California's water delivery and natural ecosystems.
Wolk has been honored by many organizations for her public service, including the Planning and Conservation League, which named Wolk its 2007 Legislator of the Year for her leadership in water policy and legislation, and for championing a landmark package of flood protection bills to strengthen flood protection in California’s Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.
In 2007, both the Highway 12 Association and Solano Transportation Authority honored Wolk for her tireless work to develop a Highway 12 safety package with the California Department of Transportation and California Highway Patrol
, and for authoring legislation to establish a safety enhancement double fine zone on a dangerous stretch of State Highway Route 12.
Wolk termed out of the Assembly in 2008, and ran for the California State Senate in the 5th district, the seat held by Michael Machado
. Wolk defeated her Republican
opponent, fellow assembly-member Greg Aghazarian
of Stockton
.
Campaign Website
Page on Davis Wiki
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 5th district
California's 5th State Senate district
California's 5th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Lois Wolk of Davis.-District profile:...
of 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...
. Wolk is a member of the Democratic Party
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...
and was elected to the Senate in 2008.
Early life
Wolk was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. She earned a B.A. from Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
in 1968, and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1971. She has taught History, Social Studies and French in grades 7 through 12 in both public and private schools. Wolk lives in Davis, California
Davis, California
Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
with her husband, Bruce Wolk, Professor of Law at UC Davis Law School. They married in 1968 and have two sons, Adam and Dan.
Political career
Wolk won a seat on the Davis City Council in 1990, and served two terms as Mayor from 1992 to 1994 and 1996 to 1998. She then served as Yolo CountyYolo County, California
Yolo County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the other counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. The city of Woodland is its county seat, though Davis is its largest city....
Supervisor
County board of supervisors
The Board of Supervisors is the body that supervises the operation of county government in all counties in Arizona, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Sussex County, New Jersey as well as a handful of counties in New York...
from 1998 to 2002, chairing the Board in 2000.
Wolk 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 2002, and won re-election in 2004 and 2006.
Wolk was Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and she served on Assembly Committees on Budget, Local Government, and Natural Resources, as well as the Budget Subcommittee on Transportation and Information Technology. In addition, Wolk served on numerous Select Committees including Biotechnology; California Children’s School Readiness and Health; Domestic Violence; Growth and Infrastructure; Ports; Water, Infrastructure and the Economy; Rural Economic Development; and Wine.
In her five years in the Assembly, Wolk succeeded in authoring 56 new laws. In 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
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....
signed many Wolk-authored bills including legislation to improve flood protection in flood-prone areas of California’s Central Valley; improve safety on a treacherous stretch of State Highway 12; require more planning for state parks and recreation opportunities for the Central Valley; and provide the Department of Fish and Game with the authority to control highly invasive species that threaten California's water delivery and natural ecosystems.
Wolk has been honored by many organizations for her public service, including the Planning and Conservation League, which named Wolk its 2007 Legislator of the Year for her leadership in water policy and legislation, and for championing a landmark package of flood protection bills to strengthen flood protection in California’s Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.
In 2007, both the Highway 12 Association and Solano Transportation Authority honored Wolk for her tireless work to develop a Highway 12 safety package with the California Department of Transportation and California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
, and for authoring legislation to establish a safety enhancement double fine zone on a dangerous stretch of State Highway Route 12.
Wolk termed out of the Assembly in 2008, and ran for the California State Senate in the 5th district, the seat held by Michael Machado
Michael Machado
Michael J. Machado is a Democratic politician from Linden, California. He served from 200-2008 in the California State Senate...
. Wolk defeated her Republican
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...
opponent, fellow assembly-member Greg Aghazarian
Greg Aghazarian
Gregory George "Greg" Aghazarian is a Republican and former California State Assemblyman who represented the 26th district from 2002 until 2008....
of Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
.
External links
State Senate Website- http://dist05.casen.govoffice.com/
Campaign Website
- http://loiswolk.com/
Page on Davis Wiki
- http://daviswiki.org/Lois_Wolk