Julia Brownley for Assembly

About me:

Julia Brownley has been a progressive community activist and an advocate for children and their education in her community for over twenty years. She has been a leader in efforts to overcome the devastating effects of California's nearly three-decade long disinvestment in our public schools. She will bring a powerful and effective voice for quality public schools to the state legislature as our next State Assemblywoman.

Currently, Julia is serving her third term as a member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Board of Education as well as her third term as President of the Board where she has worked to provide educational excellence for all students while simultaneously narrowing the achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. The results have been outstanding. Student achievement has improved remarkably, especially for disadvantaged students. State rankings of local schools in her district have risen as well. Julia's focus on excellence and equity has expanded educational opportunity for the students in greatest need and continues to make a difference in the lives of many children.

This past spring, Julia worked with the California State PTA and the Community for Excellent Public Schools to help launch the "Caravan for Kids," taking the message to the steps of the Capitol with over 5000 parents and children, calling on the governor and the state legislature to keep their promise to our children and to create a state plan for excellence in education. In addition, Julia helped lead local efforts to secure additional funds for schools and avoid massive budget cuts and layoffs by convincing the City of Santa Monica to make a major $6 million annual investment in public education funded ultimately by an increase in the City hotel bed tax.

Cut from a similar cloth as our current Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, Julia Brownley is an education advocate with a passion for our environment. As President of the Board of Education, Julia demonstrated her environmental commitment by championing her district's purchase of natural gas buses as it replaces its fleet of diesel buses. She recently proposed the school district ban the use of pesticides or herbicides on school sites and incorporate "green building standards" in its plans for future facilities. The California Legue of Conservation Voters, founding members of Heal The Bay, and other environmental leaders all support Julia in her race for the Assembly because they trust her to lead in defending California's environment, especially the miles of coastline encompassing the 41st Assembly Distict from Santa Monica to the Santa Clara River beyond Oxnard.

Julia is also a strong friend of working families. She joined other community members to support the efforts of local hotel workers to win a living wage and pushed her school board to adopt a labor peace policy at the DoubleTree Hotel on school district owned property. Her dedication to the labor movement has earned Julia the most influential Labor endorsements in her race, including the California State Federation of Labor, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (COPE), California Federation of Teachers, California State Council of SEIU, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees / AFL-CIO (AFSCME), UNITE-HERE, Santa Monica/Oxnard/Los Angeles County Firefighters and the list goes on!

Julia has been especially concerned for the health and welfare of the students in her district who lack health insurance. She advocated creating an on-site health clinic at Santa Monica High School and helped negotiate a successful program with the Venice Family Clinic and Blue Cross. On the State level Julia is committed to fighting for healthcare for all. That is why she is endorsed by Senator Sheila Kuehl, The California Nurses Association and SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West!

Julia has a BA in Political Science from George Washington University and an MBA from American University. Prior to her election to the School Board, she built a successful career in marketing management. Last year, she was named YWCA Woman of the Year for her leadership on the school board and in her community.

Julia will continue her visionary leadership and passionate advocacy for children, for education, for working families and our environment when she arrives in Sacramento. She knows that our youth, our families and our environment are our future. Her commitment and purpose will be to make California the best that it can be, and will be vigilant in the protection of what matters most to all of us: our children, families, our environment, our health, and our quality of life.