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Bass elected Assembly speaker
She is the first African American woman to hold the position. Her starting date has not been announced.
SACRAMENTO -- With a resounding "aye," the California Assembly today elected Karen Bass, a Los Angeles Democrat, as its 67th speaker.
"I am deeply honored and deeply humbled by the trust you have placed in me," Bass, 54, said moments after the vote that will vault her to one of the California's most powerful political positions. She will be the first African American woman to hold the job.
The daughter of a mail carrier and homemaker, Bass grew up in the Venice/Fairfax area and worked as a physician's assistant and community organizer before her 2004 election to the Assembly. She will assume the speakership duties from Nunez, who must leave the Assembly because of term limits, at a date that has not been announced yet.
Eight other legislators had been vying for the speakership post, but on Wednesday evening, with Nunez's assistance, Bass secured enough pledges of support to trigger today's vote.
As Assembly speaker, she will be responsible for running the daily operations of the 80-member house, negotiating California's $141-billion budget with the governor and other legislative leaders, and raising money and organizing campaigns to ensure that Democrats do not lose the wide majority they hold in the Assembly.
Bass represents represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Baldwin Hills, Culver City and parts of Koreatown, South Los Angeles and the Westside. Nancy Vogel has details of today's formal vote.
Bass elected Assembly speaker
She is the first African American woman to hold the position. Her starting date has not been announced.
SACRAMENTO -- With a resounding "aye," the California Assembly today elected Karen Bass, a Los Angeles Democrat, as its 67th speaker.
"I am deeply honored and deeply humbled by the trust you have placed in me," Bass, 54, said moments after the vote that will vault her to one of the California's most powerful political positions. She will be the first African American woman to hold the job.
The daughter of a mail carrier and homemaker, Bass grew up in the Venice/Fairfax area and worked as a physician's assistant and community organizer before her 2004 election to the Assembly. She will assume the speakership duties from Nunez, who must leave the Assembly because of term limits, at a date that has not been announced yet.
Eight other legislators had been vying for the speakership post, but on Wednesday evening, with Nunez's assistance, Bass secured enough pledges of support to trigger today's vote.
As Assembly speaker, she will be responsible for running the daily operations of the 80-member house, negotiating California's $141-billion budget with the governor and other legislative leaders, and raising money and organizing campaigns to ensure that Democrats do not lose the wide majority they hold in the Assembly.
Bass represents represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Baldwin Hills, Culver City and parts of Koreatown, South Los Angeles and the Westside. Nancy Vogel has details of today's formal vote.