Jackie Goldberg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jackie Goldberg
Goldberg in 2014
Member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education
Assumed office
May 21, 2019
Preceded byRef Rodriguez
Constituency5th district
In office
July 5, 1983 – July 4, 1991
Preceded byTony Trias
Succeeded byJeff Horton
Constituency3rd district
President of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education
Assumed office
January 17, 2023
Preceded byKelly Gonez
In office
July 10, 1989 – July 4, 1991
Preceded byRoberta L. Weintraub
Succeeded byWarren Furutani
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 45th district
In office
December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2006
Preceded byAntonio Villaraigosa
Succeeded byKevin de León
Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the 13th district
In office
July 1, 1993 – December 2, 2000
Preceded byMike Woo
Succeeded byEric Garcetti
Personal details
Born (1944-11-18) November 18, 1944 (age 79)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Sharon Stricker
​
(m. 2008)​
Residence(s)Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
University of Chicago (MEd)

Jacqueline Barbara Goldberg (born November 18, 1944) is an American politician, activist and former educator currently serving as a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education for District 5, a position she has held since 2019. Previously serving as a board member from 1983 until 1991, Goldberg has also served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Assembly.

Participating in the Free Speech Movement while a student at the University of California, Berkeley, Goldberg was first elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in 1983, defeating an anti-union and conservative incumbent. In 1993, she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council for the 13th district, becoming the first openly lesbian candidate elected to the city council. Goldberg was later elected to the California State Assembly for the 45th district. After a period away from electoral politics, she was re-elected to the Board of Education in 2019 following the resignation of Ref Rodriguez.

While serving on the City Council, Goldberg spearheaded efforts to extend benefits to unmarried domestic partners and authored a significant ordinance that ensured a living wage and benefits for all City of Los Angeles employees. She was also credited by the business community with being instrumental in revitalizing Hollywood. In the State Assembly, she authored several education-related bills and passed legislation that granted LGBT couples rights similar to those of married spouses.

Early life and education[edit]

Goldberg was born in Los Angeles, California on November 18, 1944 to Ed Goldberg, a housewares salesman, and Ruth Goldberg, a teacher.[1] She has a brother, Arthur, who is an activist and attorney.[2] The family lived in Inglewood, California, where she attended Morningside High School. She graduated early and attended University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.[3] She later went to the University of Chicago, where she graduated with a master's degree.

While in high school, she became involved activism, and in 1964, she and Arthur became participated in the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley. Goldberg emerged as a leader and chaired the initial negotiations with the University of California administration, helping to achieve a peaceful resolution of the police car blockade before being replaced as the spokesperson by Mario Savio.[4][5] She was arrested during a nonviolent demonstration, which subsequently kept her from getting a job in the Los Angeles Unified School District. After graduating from the University of Chicago, she became a teacher in the Compton Unified School District.[6]

LAUSD Board of Education[edit]

In 1983, Goldberg ran for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education against 3rd district incumbent Tony Trias, who had been appointed three years earlier. In the primary election, Goldberg placed ahead of Trias, and in the general election, she defeated him.[7] Her victory contributed to a liberal majority on the board, along with Larry Gonzalez.[8][9] In the 1987 election, Trias challenged Goldberg, but she defeated him again in the primary.[10]

During her tenure, the board implemented a year-round schedule to alleviate overcrowding in schools and established a program to transfer more authority to teachers, parents, and community members.[6] Goldberg faced criticism for her bluntness and was considered untrustworthy by some, with conservative board members labeling her as "manipulative" on certain issues. Goldberg's supporters argued that she was criticized for her efforts to change the system and share power with parents and teachers.[11] On July 10, 1989, Goldberg was elected as board president, receiving the majority of votes. However, board member Rita Walters cast the lone vote against Goldberg's election, expressing concern that Goldberg's election was from the board's preference for teachers over administrators.[12] She was later re-elected to the position on July 9, 1990.[13] In November 1990, Goldberg announced her retirement from the board and her intention to return to her career as a high school teacher. She was succeeded by teacher Jeff Horton.[14][15]

Los Angeles City Council[edit]

Goldberg as part of the Los Angeles City Council.

In 1993, Goldberg entered the race for the Los Angeles City Council's 13th district seat after incumbent Michael Woo opted not to seek re-election, instead making an unsuccessful mayoral bid. Joining Goldberg in the election were notable figures from the gay community, including AIDS health care executive Michael Weinstein and television executive Conrado Terrazas.[16] Future councilmember Tom LaBonge, who was serving as an aide to council president John Ferraro at the time, also ran in the election.[17][18] Goldberg and LaBonge advanced to a runoff, with Goldberg being more liberal and LaBonge being more conservative in the race.[19] In the subsequent runoff election, Goldberg defeated LaBonge in the runoff, becoming the first openly lesbian candidate to win a seat on the City Council.[20]

While in the City Council, Goldberg introduced a motion to provide health insurance coverage to unmarried domestic partners of city employees, a move that faced criticism for being ill-timed as the city was dealing with a budget deficit.[21][22] Goldberg also spearheaded the revitalization of Hollywood, saying that the council "invested funds in Hollywood that were invested nowhere else in the city for the past 15 years."[23]

After her election to the State Assembly, Goldberg resigned from her seat on the City Council. She advocated for the appointment of her chief of staff, Sharon Delugach, to fill the vacancy, but the council ultimately decided against it.[24] The election to succeed her saw a variety of candidates, including her brother, Arthur, former councilmember Woo, former candidate and staffer Terrazas, activist Bennett Kayser, assemblyman Scott Wildman, and Eric Garcetti, the son of Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti.[25] Garcetti and Woo advanced to a runoff, where Garcetti ultimately won the election.[26]

California State Assembly[edit]

Goldberg (center) with the California Legislative LGBT Caucus

In 2000, Goldberg entered the race for the California State Assembly to succeed Antonio Villaraigosa, who was termed out and running for Mayor of Los Angeles that next year. Initially facing competition from AIDS activist Cesar Portillo and legal services director Antonio de la Rosa, the latter withdrew from the race, narrowing the competition to two openly gay candidates.[27] During the campaign, Portillo alleged that Goldberg's campaign was exploiting his arrest nine years prior by an undercover policeman and disclosed this information to the public in an attempt to counteract the rumors. However, Goldberg's campaign denied these allegations.[28] In the primary, Goldberg secured a landslide victory over Portillo, and subsequently proceeded to win the general election unopposed.[29] She was re-elected in 2002 and 2004 before being termed out.[30]

She and Christine Kehoe joined incumbent assemblymembers Sheila Kuehl and Carole Migden as the only openly gay members of the state assembly. The four frequently gathered for dinner at Goldberg's house, meeting at least once a month. Two years later, with the election of Mark Leno and John Laird to the Assembly, the six legislators formed the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in June 2002.[31][32]

While in the Assembly, Goldberg served as the chair of the Committee on Education and authored several education-related bills. These included legislation to expedite school construction, a bill for textbooks favored by teachers, and an attempt to ban Native American mascots in schools, which was ultimately blocked.[33][34][35] She also authored a bill that granted same-sex couples the same legal rights and obligations as married couples in handling children, money, and property. Governor Gray Davis promised to sign the bill.[36][37] After she termed out, she was succeeded by labor organizer Kevin de León.[38]

Retirement and return to politics[edit]

Goldberg (far left) with Attorney General Rob Bonta during Read Across America Day.

After retiring, Goldberg taught for several years as part of the UCLA Teacher Education Program and joined UCLA's Center X.[39] When Roy Romer was nearing retirement as Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2006, Goldberg was rumored to be campaigning for an appointment to the office, although she denied having any interest in the position.[40]

On July 23, 2018, incumbent District 5 board member Ref Rodriguez resigned from his seat after pleading guilty to perjury and other felonies in an accounting scandal, vacating a position on the board. Goldberg indicated interest in filling Rodriguez’s seat, clarifying that she had no intention of serving beyond the remainder of his term. The board opted to schedule an election on March 5, 2019, followed by a runoff on May 14, 2019, while also deciding against pursuing an appointment process.[41] Goldberg announced her candidacy to complete the term as a candidate backed by the teachers' union. Among ten contenders, she secured the top position and proceeded to a runoff against Heather Repenning.[42][43] In the runoff, Goldberg achieved a landslide victory over Repenning, signaling a significant shift in the board's power dynamic toward union-backed members, as the board had previously been majority pro-charter.[44][45][46]

In her first days back on the board, Goldberg challenged the aid to charter schools.[47] In the 2020 election, she was challenged by teacher Christina Martinez Duran, where Goldberg was opposed by Manhattan Beach businessman Bill Bloomfield with attack ads.[48] Goldberg defeated Martinez Duran in the election and was re-elected to a second term.[49] In January 2023, Goldberg was elected as the president of the Board of Education, replacing Kelly Gonez.[50] On January 17, 2023, Goldberg was elected by the board to become the board president, succeeding Kelly Gonez.[51] As president, she focused on making meetings understandable and accessible to the public. She also led the board in providing LGBTQ+ support following anti-LGBTQ+ protests at Saticoy Elementary School.[52] She was re-elected as board president on December 12, 2023.[53][54] In August 2023, Goldberg announced that she would be retiring from the board in 2024 and stepping away from electoral politics.[55]

Personal life[edit]

Goldberg is lesbian and Jewish, and is married to Sharon Stricker, a poet and activist. The couple met in 1976 and moved to Echo Park three years later.[56] They were married on March 8, 2004, in San Francisco during the city's same-sex weddings.[57] Goldberg and Stricker have an adopted son named Brian Stricker Goldberg, whom they raised together.[58]

Electoral history[edit]

Electoral history of Kevin Kiley
Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Ref.
Total % P. Total % P.
1983 LAUSD Board of Education (3rd) Nonpartisan 10,954 39.27% 1st 14,073 65.45% 1st Won N/A [59]
1987 Nonpartisan 12,788 63.98% 1st Runoff cancelled Won N/A [60]
1993 Los Angeles City Council (13th) Nonpartisan 7,218 34.14% 1st 11,753 51.43% 1st Won N/A [61]
1997 Nonpartisan 13,823 100.00% 1st Runoff cancelled Won N/A [62]
2000 California State Assembly (45th) Democratic 26,098 60.16% 1st 57,092 100.00% 1st Won Hold [63][64]
2002 Democratic 14,372 100.00% 1st 39,952 85.58% 1st Won Hold [65][66]
2004 Democratic 16,524 100.00% 1st 62,091 75.95% 1st Won Hold [67][68]
2019 LAUSD Board of Education (5th) Nonpartisan 15,935 48.18% 1st 17,218 71.62% 1st Won N/A [69]
2020 Nonpartisan 65,081 58.40% 1st Runoff cancelled Won N/A [70]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Melinkoff, Ellen (November 17, 1985). "EVENTS Children's Expo '85, an educational family..." Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ Outes, Marylouise (April 20, 1982). "40th Birthday for a Radical of '60s". Los Angeles Times. p. 67.
  3. ^ "Jackie Goldberg: Profile of a Tough Liberal". June 6, 1983. p. 102.
  4. ^ Cohen, Robert (April 18, 2021). "Don't Erase Women's Leadership in the Berkeley Free Speech Movement". History News Network.
  5. ^ Rosenfield, Seth (October 10, 2004). "Mario Savio's FBI Odyssey / How the man who challenged 'the machine' got caught in the gears and wheels of J. Edgar Hoover's bureau". SFGATE.
  6. ^ a b Merl, Jean (March 10, 1991). "Los Angeles Times Interview : Jackie Goldberg : Fighting the Good Fight for a Better L.A. School District".
  7. ^ Roderick, Kevin (June 2, 1983). "Slumbering Issue of Busing Revived as School Board Race Centerpiece". Los Angeles Times. p. 32.
  8. ^ Roderick, Kevin (June 8, 1983). "Liberals Win Control of L.A. Board of Education". Los Angeles Times. p. 14.
  9. ^ "Schools: Things Are Looking Up". Los Angeles Times. April 14, 1983.
  10. ^ Woo, Elaine (February 20, 1987). "Teachers Union to Oppose Two on School Board". Los Angeles Times. p. 39.
  11. ^ Savage, David G. (March 25, 1984). "Vocal School Activist Stirs Ire of Board". Los Angeles Times. p. 40.
  12. ^ Mednick, Amy (July 11, 1989). "Goldberg to head board". News-Pilot. p. 3.
  13. ^ "School Board Reelects Goldberg". Los Angeles Times. July 9, 1990. p. 163.
  14. ^ "Goldberg Quitting". Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1990. p. 35.
  15. ^ "Horton Leading for Goldberg Seat; Race for Walters' Is Close". Los Angeles Times. April 10, 1991. p. 17.
  16. ^ "LOS ANGELES : AIDS Activist to Run for Woo's City Council Seat". Los Angeles Times. October 9, 1992.
  17. ^ Rainey, James (January 22, 1993). "3 Gay Leaders to Seek Council Seat in 13th District : Politics: Ex-school board President Jackie Goldberg, health care executive Michael Weinstein and TV executive Conrado Terrazas will try to replace Woo". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ Ohland, Gloria. "Embarrassment of Riches". LA Weekly. p. 12.
  19. ^ Russel, Ron (May 30, 1993). "Goldberg, LaBonge Head Into Tight Contest". Los Angeles Times. p. 56.
  20. ^ "Goldberg says her victory gives gays a new voice". Pasadena Star-News. June 10, 1993. p. 6.
  21. ^ Rainey, James (November 16, 1993). "Goldberg to Seek Benefits for Unmarried Partners". Los Angeles Times. p. 39.
  22. ^ "Benefits vote costly, ill-timed". News-Pilot. December 1, 1993. p. 4.
  23. ^ Bernstein, Sharon (November 3, 2002). "Revitalization a Matter of Time in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. 72.
  24. ^ Daunt, Tina (December 2, 2000). "Council Bids Goldberg Farewell as She Moves On to Assembly". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ "Michael Woo for the 13th District". Los Angeles Times. March 27, 2001.
  26. ^ McGreevy, Patrick; Fox, Sue (June 6, 2001). "Garcetti Defeats Woo; Hayden Trailing Weiss". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Merl, Jean (March 5, 2000). "Term Limits Result in Competitive Races". Los Angeles Times.
  28. ^ Rabin, Jefferey L. (February 21, 2000). "Candidate for Assembly Reveals Arrest Record". Los Angeles Times.
  29. ^ "Primary: Victories in Some Districts Will Be Final". Los Angeles Times. March 2, 2000. p. 87.
  30. ^ Gold, Scott (April 29, 2006). "Family Ties May Falter in Fierce Race". Los Angeles Times.
  31. ^ Castillo, Elizabeth (January 21, 2019). "California's LGBT caucus thrives, because sometimes, lawmaking is personal". The Desert Sun.
  32. ^ Lawrence, Steve (February 16, 2003). "Closet reform". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 11.
  33. ^ Bustillo, Miguel (May 29, 2002). "Bill to Ban Indian Mascots Is Blocked". Los Angeles Times.
  34. ^ "Assembly to vote on textbook bill teachers favor / Unions, districts would form 'partnership' for selection process". SFGATE. May 23, 2002.
  35. ^ "Assembly rejects ban on U.S. Indian team names". SFGATE. May 29, 2002.
  36. ^ Vogel, Nancy (September 4, 2003). "Bill Giving Gay Partners More Legal Rights Sent to Governor". Los Angeles Times.
  37. ^ Salladay, Robert (March 25, 2003). "Gay legislators step up push for rights / 9 bills seek to extend protections". SFGATE.
  38. ^ Gold, Scott (May 6, 2006). "Mayor Endorses Assembly Candidate". Los Angeles Times.
  39. ^ Rogers, John. "Politics and Hope: Jackie Goldberg on creating fair and adequate funding for California's schools". UCLA Center X.
  40. ^ "Goldberg to head LAUSD?". Los Angeles Daily News. February 21, 2006.
  41. ^ Blume, Howard (August 21, 2018). "Vacant school board seat could remain unfilled for months". Los Angeles Times.
  42. ^ Blume, Howard (March 6, 2019). "Jackie Goldberg heads into runoff for key L.A. school board seat with strong momentum". Los Angeles Times.
  43. ^ Plachta, Ariella (March 5, 2019). "LAUSD Election 2019: Jackie Goldberg tops field in LA school board race that appears headed for May runoff". Los Angeles Daily News.
  44. ^ Kohli, Sonali; Díaz, Alexa; Pineda, Dorany (May 14, 2019). "Jackie Goldberg returns to L.A. school board with resounding election win". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ "Jackie Goldberg wins LAUSD special election". ABC7. May 15, 2019.
  46. ^ Stokes, Kyle (May 14, 2019). "She's Back: Jackie Goldberg Reclaims Seat On LAUSD Board". LAist.
  47. ^ Blume, Howard (May 21, 2019). "Goldberg joins L.A. Unified school board, immediately challenges aid to charter schools". Los Angeles Times.
  48. ^ Blume, Howard (February 18, 2020). "A surprise big spender funds attack campaign mailers in key L.A. school board races". Los Angeles Times.
  49. ^ Strauss, Vanessa (March 4, 2020). "Good news likely for union opposing charters in L.A. school board vote". The Washington Post.
  50. ^ Blume, Howard (January 17, 2023). "Goldberg elected L.A. school board president amid tense labor negotiations". Los Angeles Times.
  51. ^ Blume, Howard (January 17, 2023). "Goldberg elected L.A. school board president amid tense labor negotiations". Los Angeles Times.
  52. ^ Blume, Howard (December 13, 2023). "Jackie Goldberg, bold supporter of LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim students, to lead L.A. school board". Los Angeles Times.
  53. ^ Harter, Clara. "LAUSD school board reelects Jackie Goldberg as its president". Los Angeles Daily News.
  54. ^ Ring, Trudy (June 10, 2023). "L.A. School Board President Gives a Lesson on LGBTQ+ Inclusion". The Advocate.
  55. ^ Blume, Howard (August 2, 2023). "Jackie Goldberg, George McKenna, LAUSD 'pillars,' will not seek school board reelection". Los Angeles Times.
  56. ^ Engel, Mary (March 6, 2008). "Same-sex union -- it's personal". Los Angeles Times.
  57. ^ Gordon, Rachel (March 9, 2004). "State lawmaker joins S.F.'s gay wedding waltz / Republicans demand Newsom halt same-sex marriages and focus on city's 'critical issues'". SFGATE.
  58. ^ Hall, Carla (August 8, 1993). "L.A. Councilwoman Seeks to Move Beyond Stereotypes : Politics: She is open about her family life, but Jackie Goldberg says don't label her 'the gay council member.'". Los Angeles Times.
  59. ^ "Campaign '83". Los Angeles Times. April 14, 1983. p. 7.
  60. ^ "The Vote". Los Angeles Times. April 16, 1987.
  61. ^ Russell, Ron (June 10, 1993). "LOCAL ELECTIONS : Big Turnout a Factor in Several Close Calls : Council: 13th District winner Jackie Goldberg worked hard to get people to vote. And 48% of those registered did". Los Angeles Times.
  62. ^ "CITY OF LOS ANGELES PRIMARY NOMINATING ELECTION FINAL - OFFICIAL RESULTS". Los Angeles City Clerk. April 22, 1997.
  63. ^ "Member of the State Assembly; District 45". Smart Voter. March 7, 2000.
  64. ^ "General Election - Statement of Vote, November 7, 2000" (PDF). Secretary of State of California.
  65. ^ "Primary 2002 California". The Sacramento Bee. March 7, 2002. p. 6.
  66. ^ "General Election - Statement of Vote, November 5, 2002" (PDF). Secretary of State of California.
  67. ^ "Primary 2004 / California". The Sacramento Bee. March 4, 2004. p. 7.
  68. ^ "Presidential General Election - Statement of Vote, November 2, 2004" (PDF). Secretary of State of California.
  69. ^ "May 14, 2019 LAUSD District 5 Special Runoff Election" (PDF). Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
  70. ^ "Presidential Primary Election". Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. March 3, 2020.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackie_Goldberg&oldid=1227136499"