Ellen Corbett

Ellen Marie Corbett (born December 31, 1954) is a Democratic politician from San Leandro, California. She is currently serving her second term in the California State Senate. Corbett represents the 10th District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Pleasanton, Union City, Fremont, Newark, Milpitas and part of San Jose. She is currently the Senate Majority Leader.

Ellen Corbett was a member of the California State Assembly from 1998 until she was termed out in 2004. She has served as a city councilmember and mayor for San Leandro and worked as an attorney, community college professor and civic activist.

Corbett attended Chabot Community College and California State University, Hayward. She graduated from the University of California, Davis and McGeorge Law School.^[2]

She currently lives in San Leandro, California.^[3]

Absent During Critical Times

As an Assemblymember (1998-2004) and Senator (2006-present), Corbett has been criticized by the press and local democratic activists for being absent during critical votes. Beginning in May 1999, Corbett missed an important debate and vote on gun control at the State Capitol while she was in her local district.^[4] She also missed a vote to place tough new restriction on unsolicited commercial internet emails, known as “spam,” in July 2003.^[5] As Senator, she has gone missing on numerous votes including legislation to prevent billboards from turning into the “high-voltage digital variety” similar to the “monstrosity” along Interstate 80 next to the Bay Bridge Toll plaza^[6], and a year later in 2009, killing a bill through hostile amendments in her committee that would have allowed local government the ability to crack down on illegal billboards throughout the state.^[7] In 2008, she was also criticized for leaving the state on a political junket trip to India while California grappled with a $28 billion budget deficit crisis even after the governor called a special session for the legislature to solve it.^[8] The Sacramento Bee reported in April 2011 that Corbett missed 409 votes during 2009-10 Legislative Session, more than any other legislator in the entire Bay Area excluding Senator Pat Wiggins who suffered from a chronic illness.^[9] Another investigative report during the 2009-10 Session showed that Corbett failed to report to work at the State Capitol nearly 1 out of 4 required roll call days, but almost always accepted her per diem of $142 per day that pays for expenses while working in Sacramento.^[10][11]

Campaign Finance Controversy

On November 30, 2004, then Assembly Member Corbett termed out of office with $97,851.43 left in her Assembly campaign account. Corbett discovered in April 2005 that her campaign treasurer, Rita Copeland of River City Business Services, had not transferred the funds into her Senate campaign account prior to leaving office in accordance to state law. Her Assembly campaign funds became “surplus campaign funds” preventing the transfer of funds to her Senate campaign during a competitive race. On June 17, 2005, Corbett requested that the Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) allow the transfer of funds due to the “gross negligence” of her campaign treasurer. Corbett claimed that she requested the transfer several times on the phone to her treasurer prior to leaving office, but Corbett provided no written documentation of such requests. On July 8, 2005, the FPPC responded that the transfer of funds from her Assembly account to Senate campaign account was a violation of Section 89519 of the Political Reform Act and denied her request. The FPPC staff further stated that Section 18427 of the Political Reform Act states, “the candidate shall be subject to the same duties imposed upon treasurers.” On January 27, 2006, Corbett hired attorneys from Pirayou Law Offices, who requested once more that the FPPC allow her to transfer the funds. Again, the FPPC legal staff on February 27, 2006 wrote in a memorandum to the FPPC Commissioners that allowing the transfer of funds would “invite a long line of elected officials seeking similar relief, from all types of mandates in the Act, based upon the purported negligence of their treasurers.”^[12] On April 24, 2006, Corbett appealed to the politically appointed Commissioners of the FPPC.^[13] In a split decision, the majority of the Commissioners overruled its legal staff recommendation and allowed the transfer of funds.^[14]

References

External links

• Ellen Corbett's State Senate website