New Congresswoman Jackie Speier At Home in Washington

Tuesday, the special election for California District 12's seat in the House to replace Tom Lantos, couldn't have been better scripted for former California State Senator Jackie Speier. Winning 78% of the vote, she flew the next day to Washington and was sworn in yesterday as a member of Congress. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, she spoke on behalf of her constituents here in California and the majority of them want us out of Iraq. I lived in what's now her district in the past and I'm proud to say I was able to vote for her twice, but not this time. (I'm in her friend, Anna Eshoo's district now.) Jackie - or I should say - Congresswoman Speier was welcomed by many, and she spoke without fear about what she hopes to accomplish. And did I mention she's now a superdelegate?

Think again if Jackie Speier's entry to Congress doesn't register, because she's been ready for this role for years and she has already hit the ground running. I have great expectations for her because of her record in California and her personal history. If she means to take on the pharmaceutical companies, she can. When she says she wants to investigate earmarks, government fraud and consumer waste, you can bet she will. But it's not over yet. She still has a fundraiser chaired by Speier for Clinton in the fall in Hillsborough, near Speier's home. Speier spoke passionately and sincerely about her reasons for supporting Clinton. I don't have my notes from that handy, so I don't want write the wrong thing here, but I know those reasons resonated with me and most of the other women and moms in attendance.

In Congresswoman Speier's email to her supporters late Wednesday, she wrote about her "tremendous victory" and simply stated, "it's already time to get to work." And she signed it, "Jackie Speier, Member of Congress". That sent goose bumps through me as I read it, being someone who strongly believes in her and having helped a little with her campaigns. For those who feel like progress is slow or nonexistent in government, I'll only say that now we have one more principled leader in the House of Representatives, and she's also a parent who gets what it's all about.

Sarah Granger, aka Sairy, supports as many women candidates as she can.

Comments

[cynematic]

Congrats to her--it's never a cakewalk winning office!