Info | Education
El Campo High School (Texas), 1964
Southwest Texas State University, B.A. in Political Science & Speech, Secondary teaching certificate, 1968
University of Southwestern Louisiana, graduate studies in Political Science, 1969
Professional/Work Experience
Graduate instructor, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1968-69
Lobbyist and Assistant Director of Government Relations, National Education Association, Washington, D.C., 1969-80
Owner, retail sporting goods/swimwear store on Maui, 1980-87
Business Consultant, 1987-88
Legislative aide to Representative Karen Horita, 1987
Legislator, 1988 - 1998
Economic Development Coordinator, County of Maui, 1999 - 2002
Political Experience
Chair, National Youth Franchise Coalition, which led effort of secure 26th Amendment of US Constitution lowering the voting age to 18, 1970; Coordinated lobbying effort to enact legislation creating US Dept. of Education, 1979
Elected to the State House of Representatives, 1988; House Majority Leader, 1993; Appointed to the Senate, 1993; Senate Housing Committee Chair, 1994; Elected to the Senate, 1994; Senate Majority Leader, 1995-96; Co-chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection & Information Technology, 1997; Member, Joint Legislative Committee on Long Term Care Financing, 1997-98; Co-chair, Senate Committee on Ways & Means, 1998.
Democratic National Convention delegate 1984, 1992; alternate 1996; Executive Committee, Maui County Democratic Party, 1986-88; State Democratic Convention: Co-Chair Rules Committee, 1990; Co-chair Resolutions Committee, 1992; State Democratic Convention delegate, 1984-02
National Order of Women Legislators (NOWL) Co-Chair, 1997 National Conference; Legislator chair, Committee on Legislative Effectiveness, ASI, National Conference of State Legislators 1996-97; Vice Chair, Assembly on State Issues, NCSL, 1997-1998.
Community Honors and Activities
1998 Legislator of the Year Healthcare Association of Hawaii and Hawaii Long Term Care Association
Distinguished Alumna 1995, Southwest Texas State University
Soroptimist International of West Maui Woman of Distinction 1994
Board member, AKAKU Community Television
President, American Cancer Society, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i Unit, 1997-01
Pacific Century Scholars mentor 1998-99
Mayor's Advisory Committee on a 4 Year University
Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Old Lahaina Courthouse
Community Work Day volunteer
Former Vice Chair, Maui Service Area Board on Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Family Community Leadership Advisory Committee
Maui Youth & Family Services Board
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