Former Senate Democratic Majority Leader and Education Reformer Gloria Romero endorses Catharine Baker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 17, 2014
CONTACT: Justin Matheson, 800-916-1770 ext. 8
 

Former Senate Democratic Majority Leader and Education Reformer Gloria Romero endorses Catharine Baker

 
(Pleasanton, Calif.) – Adding another major bipartisan endorsement, Catharine Baker is pleased to announce that former Senate Majority Leader and education reform leader Gloria Romero had endorsed her campaign for State Assembly.   Senator Romero joins a long list of bipartisan education endorsements that are passionate about education reform.
 
“Catharine Baker is the kind of leader we need more of in Sacramento,” said Senator Romero.  “She can work across party lines to get things done for the good of our state and our families.  Catharine is the only candidate in this race who can work with everyone – Republicans, Democrats, Independents – to improve our schools for the good of our teachers and our children.”
 
“To improve our schools, we need bipartisan reformers who have the courage and independence from the powerful teachers union to fight for real education reform," said Baker.  "There is hope for California’s schools through bipartisan cooperation, and I am grateful for the support we continue to see."  
 
Senator Romero joins an impressive list of bipartisan education leaders including Jean Follmer, Governing Board Member, Lafayette School District Governing Board; Bill Dunlop, Board Member, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District; Anne White, Board Member, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District; Mark Jewett, Member, San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education; Denise Jennison, Vice President, San Ramon Valley Unified School Board of Education; Greg Marvel, Member, San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education; Hong Mei, Board Member of a prominent local Chinese school; Alice Wang, Member, PTA, Livermore and Pleasanton schools; Dan Cunningham, Dublin Unified School Board Trustee; and Greg Tomlinson, Dublin Unified School Board Trustee.

Senator Romero was a Democratic State Senator and served as Majority Leader from 2001 until 2008. She was the first woman to hold that leadership position.  In 2008, Romero stepped down as Majority Leader and became chairman of the Senate Education Committee.  In that position, she authored and guided to passage a fiercely contested “parent trigger” law.  This law allows parents in a failing school to vote to restructure the school.  Currently, she leads The California Center for Parent Empowerment.  The center was established to empower public school parents with children trapped in chronically under-performing schools.  More recently, Senator Romero headed up the California chapter of Democrats for Education Reform.