Ira Ruskin

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California State Assemblyman Ira Ruskin

Ira Ruskin is a Democratic California State Assemblyman and former Redwood City, California Council member. He represents the 21st Assembly District, which includes Redwood City, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Los Altos Hills and the Almaden Valley neighborhood of San Jose.

1 Family
2 Education
3 Political career
4 Awards
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Family

Ira and his wife Cheryl (a Licensed Landscape Designer) reside in the Redwood City, California. They have no children.

[edit] Education

University of California, Berkeley, B.A. History, 1968
Stanford University, M.A. Communications (emphasis on filmmaking), 1983

[edit] Political career

[edit] City Council

1995-2004: Member, Redwood City Council

1999-2001: Mayor of Redwood City

[edit] California Assembly

Elected 2004 over Republican Steve Poizner (elected California Insurance Commissioner in the November 2006 election, who ran against Democrat Cruz Bustamante (45th Lieutenant Governor of California). The Assemby race was an uphill battle as Ruskin had local government experience but initially lacked major campaign funding. The Assembly race heated up when Poizner donated $6 million to his campaign. Ruskin began a major fundraising and grassroots effort, which attracted attention from around the state. With the assistance of several of California's public employee unions and massive grassroots support from people throughout the community, Ruskin was able to win the race.[1].
In November 2006 Ira Ruskin was re-elected to the California State Assembly by a wide margain of 75,388 votes,67.4% to his challenger Virginia Chang Kiraly (Rep) 36,628 votes, 32.6%[2] This will be Ruskins first full term in the State Assembly.

[edit] Government Boards

Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, Served as Chair
San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority
CalFED ABAG Task Force, Served as Chair
Water Management Subcommittee
Organization of Chinese Americans
San Mateo County, Advisory Board
Redwood City Education Foundation
San Mateo County Transportation Authority
San Mateo County Criminal Justice Council
San Mateo County Joint Powers Authority (for emergency medical response)
San Mateo County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Advisory Board

[edit] Elder Protection Policy

Ruskin introduced the policy in Redwood City of requiring nursing homes to admit visiting community police officers to help prevent elder abuse in nursing homes. The San Jose Mercury News called this "a bold step" and "a first for a California city." ^[1]

[edit] Awards

Ruskin was the recipient of the first-ever award from DAWN (a Democratic feminist organization) to a man for "excellent work performed on behalf of freedom and equality for women." He helped bring attention to the plight of the Bosnian Muslim women in a public forum which included the live trans-Atlantic interview of rape camp survivors. Ruskin became involved in public policy and politics after working working on rape as a genocidal weapon in Bosnia.