Lynn Schenk
Encyclopedia
Lynn Schenk is a former American
Democratic politician
from the state of California
. She served one term in the United States House of Representatives
, from 1993 to 1995.
Schenk was born in 1945, in the Bronx
, the daughter of a Holocaust
survivor. She attended public schools in the Bronx and Los Angeles
, and graduated from Hamilton High School
. She received her B.A.
from U.C.L.A.
in 1967 and her J.D.
from the University of San Diego School of Law
in 1970. There were only three other women in her law class. Schenk did post-graduate study in international law at the London School of Economics
.
In 1971, with two other female lawyers, Schenk broke the gender barrier at The Grant Grill in the downtown San Diego U. S. Grant Hotel
. Women were prohibited during lunch, so a male friend made a reservation and the three women went in to eat, unescorted. They ordered mock turtle soup
, a specialty not available in the hotel’s other restaurants.
After trying to push them out the door, the staff seated them. The three continued to come back until a "No women before 3 p.m." sign was removed. The next year, she and other women formed the Lawyers Club of San Diego, which worked for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment
and on other women's rights issues.
Schenk worked as a White House Fellow, under Vice Presidents
Nelson A. Rockefeller and Walter Mondale
, as a deputy attorney general in the office of the California Attorney General
, and as an attorney for San Diego Gas and Electric. California Governor Jerry Brown
appointed her deputy secretary, and later secretary, of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
from 1977 until 1983. After Brown decided not to run for a third term, she returned to private practice.
In 1984, she ran against Republican Susan Golding
for San Diego County Supervisor. Late in the race, Golding's campaign allegedly mailed out a piece of literature accusing Schenk of financial irregularities. Schenk lost 45% to 55%. Reportedly, she later sued Golding for slander and settled out-of-court with Golding's insurers in 1988.
In 1992, Schenk won the Democratic nomination to run for Congress from California's 49th congressional district
, covering most of San Diego. Redistricting after the 1990 U.S. Census had created an open seat in much of an area previously represented by six-term Republican incumbent Bill Lowery
. Schenk won, becoming the first Democrat to represent the area in 40 years. She was defeated for reelection in 1994 by Brian Bilbray
, the Republican mayor of Imperial Beach
.
After serving in Congress, Schenk served in various positions in the California state government under California Governor Gray Davis
, including Chief of Staff, from 1998 until Davis was recalled in 2003. As Chief of Staff, she didn't "suffer fools" and was responsible for much of the “centrist” policy of the Davis Administration.
Currently, Schenk practices corporate law. She sits on the boards of various organizations including The Scripps Research Institute
Board of Trustees.
She remains active in California and national politics.
Schenk and her husband, University of San Diego
law professor C. Hugh Friedman, live in San Diego.
Schenk has served on the board of the California High Speed Rail Authority since 2003 when she was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. She serves as Vice Chairperson in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state 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...
. She served one term in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, from 1993 to 1995.
Schenk was born in 1945, in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, the daughter of a Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
survivor. She attended public schools in the Bronx and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and graduated from Hamilton High School
Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles, California)
Alexander Hamilton High School is a public high school within the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is in the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:...
. She received her 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...
from U.C.L.A.
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in 1967 and her J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of San Diego School of Law
University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law, commonly referred to as USD Law, is a law school located on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California in the community of Linda Vista. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961...
in 1970. There were only three other women in her law class. Schenk did post-graduate study in international law at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
In 1971, with two other female lawyers, Schenk broke the gender barrier at The Grant Grill in the downtown San Diego U. S. Grant Hotel
U. S. Grant Hotel
The U.S. Grant Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown San Diego, California. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is 11 stories high and has 270 guest rooms in addition to meeting rooms and a ballroom.-History:...
. Women were prohibited during lunch, so a male friend made a reservation and the three women went in to eat, unescorted. They ordered mock turtle soup
Mock turtle soup
Mock turtle soup is an English soup that was created in the mid-18th century as a cheaper imitation of green turtle soup. It often uses brains and organ meats such as calf's head or a calf's foot to duplicate the texture and flavour of the original's turtle meat.Mrs. Fowle's Mock Turtle Soup,:"Take...
, a specialty not available in the hotel’s other restaurants.
After trying to push them out the door, the staff seated them. The three continued to come back until a "No women before 3 p.m." sign was removed. The next year, she and other women formed the Lawyers Club of San Diego, which worked for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
and on other women's rights issues.
Schenk worked as a White House Fellow, under Vice Presidents
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Nelson A. Rockefeller and Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
, as a deputy attorney general in the office of the California Attorney General
California Attorney General
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.The...
, and as an attorney for San Diego Gas and Electric. California Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
appointed her deputy secretary, and later secretary, of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
The California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency is a state cabinet-level agency in the government of California. The Business, Transportation and Housing Agency is responsible for oversight of 14 offices and departments and four economic development programs and initiatives within the...
from 1977 until 1983. After Brown decided not to run for a third term, she returned to private practice.
In 1984, she ran against Republican Susan Golding
Susan Golding
Susan G. Golding is an American Republican politician from California, best known as the former two-term mayor of San Diego. She is currently president and CEO of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation in San Diego...
for San Diego County Supervisor. Late in the race, Golding's campaign allegedly mailed out a piece of literature accusing Schenk of financial irregularities. Schenk lost 45% to 55%. Reportedly, she later sued Golding for slander and settled out-of-court with Golding's insurers in 1988.
In 1992, Schenk won the Democratic nomination to run for Congress from California's 49th congressional district
California's 49th congressional district
California's 49th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that currently covers much of northern San Diego County and southwestern Riverside County.The district is currently represented by Republican Darrell E...
, covering most of San Diego. Redistricting after the 1990 U.S. Census had created an open seat in much of an area previously represented by six-term Republican incumbent Bill Lowery
Bill Lowery (US politician)
William David "Bill" Lowery was a Republican politician from California.Lowery was born in southeastern San Diego, California, USA, where he grew up. He attended San Diego State University....
. Schenk won, becoming the first Democrat to represent the area in 40 years. She was defeated for reelection in 1994 by 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...
, the Republican mayor of Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach, California
Imperial Beach is a residential beach city in San Diego County, California, with a population of 26,324 at the 2010 census. The city is the most southern beach city in Southern California and the West Coast of the United States...
.
After serving in Congress, Schenk served in various positions in the California state government under California Governor Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
, including Chief of Staff, from 1998 until Davis was recalled in 2003. As Chief of Staff, she didn't "suffer fools" and was responsible for much of the “centrist” policy of the Davis Administration.
Currently, Schenk practices corporate law. She sits on the boards of various organizations including The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is an American medical research facility that focuses on research in the basic biomedical sciences. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, with a sister facility in Jupiter, Florida, the institute is home to 3,000 scientists, technicians, graduate students, and...
Board of Trustees.
She remains active in California and national politics.
Schenk and her husband, University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
law professor C. Hugh Friedman, live in San Diego.
Schenk has served on the board of the California High Speed Rail Authority since 2003 when she was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. She serves as Vice Chairperson in 2011.