Shirley Weber

Shirley Weber (née Nash; born September 20, 1948) is an American academic and politician serving as the secretary of state of California. She was previously a member of the California State Assembly for the 79th Assembly District,[1] which includes portions of San Diego, Chula Vista, and National City and all of Lemon Grove and La Mesa.

Shirley Weber
33rd Secretary of State of California
Incumbent
Assumed office January 29, 2021
Governor	Gavin Newsom
Preceded by	Alex Padilla
Member of the California State Assembly from the 79th district
In office December 3, 2012 – January 29, 2021
Preceded by	Marty Block (redistricted)
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	September 20, 1948 Hope, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Daniel Weber (deceased)
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BA, MA, PhD)
Website	Government website

Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, Weber served on the San Diego Board of Education, and as a Professor of African-American Studies at San Diego State University. A member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, she is the first African American to be elected to the California State Legislature south of Los Angeles.[2]

In December 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom nominated Weber to succeed Alex Padilla, who was nominated to succeed Vice-President Kamala Harris as one of California's two senators, as California Secretary of State. Upon inauguration, Weber is the first African American person to serve as Secretary of State and the fifth to serve in a statewide position.

Early life and education

Weber was born in Hope, Arkansas and raised in Los Angeles. Her father left school after sixth grade but encouraged Weber and her seven siblings to prioritize their education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and PhD in communication from the University of California, Los Angeles.[2][3]

Career

Academics

Weber is a professor emerita of Africana studies at San Diego State University. She helped to establish that department in 1972 and became its chair, teaching there for 40 years. She was president of the National Council for Black Studies from 2002 to 2006.[4]

Early political career

She served as a board member and later president of the San Diego Board of Education from 1988 to 1996. She also served as Chairwoman of the San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission.[2]

California Assembly

In Fall 2011, she was recruited to run for the California State Assembly by Toni Atkins, who has regarded Weber as an inspiring role model ever since hearing her speak as a school board member.[2] In November 2012 Weber defeated her Republican opponent, Mary England, by 61.7% to 38.3%.[5] Weber said her focus as an assembly member will be education. She was re-elected 4 times.

During her time in the Assembly, Weber was a member of the California Assembly's Committee on Higher Education. She also chaired the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #5. She promoted the development of a state university location in Chula Vista, possibly beginning as a satellite or extension campus of the California State University system.[6]

California Secretary of State

On December 22, 2020, it was announced that Weber would succeed Alex Padilla as Secretary of State of California, effective upon confirmation by the California State Legislature.[7] Weber is the first African American person to serve as Secretary of State and the fifth to serve in a statewide position, following Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Superintendents of Public Instruction Wilson Riles and Tony Thurmond. Weber was sworn in on January 29, 2021 and was confirmed unanimously by the state senate the day before.[8][9]

Personal life

Weber's husband, Judge Daniel Weber, died in 2002. She has two children and three grandchildren.[10][11] Her daughter, Akilah Weber, is a surgeon and a member of the La Mesa City Council. On January 27, 2021, Akilah announced that she would be a candidate to succeed her mother in the California State Assembly.[12]

Electoral history

2012

California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2012

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shirley Weber	20,293	30.5
	Republican	Mary England	19,313	29.1
	Republican	Matt Mendoza	8,857	13.3
	Democratic	Rudy Ramirez	7,533	11.3
	Democratic	Patricia Ann Washington	5,404	8.1
	Democratic	Sid Voorakkara	5,060	7.6
Total votes			66,460	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Shirley Weber	94,170	61.7
	Republican	Mary England	58,424	38.3
Total votes			152,594	100.0
	Democratic hold

2014

California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2014

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	35,886	99.7
	American Independent	George R. Williams (write-in)	115	0.3
Total votes			36,001	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	49,264	61.9
	American Independent	George R. Williams	30,266	38.1
Total votes			79,530	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016

California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2016

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	64,395	67.7
	Republican	John Moore	30,711	32.3
Total votes			95,106	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	92,285	64.56
	Republican	John Moore	50,687	35.4
Total votes			142,972	100.0

2018

California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2018

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	51,395	63.7
	Republican	John Moore	29,324	36.3
Total votes			80,719	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	103,533	66.8
	Republican	John Moore	51,548	33.2
Total votes			155,081	100.0
	Democratic hold

2020

2020 California's 79th State Assembly district election

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	74,121	65.7
	Republican	John Moore	19,619	17.4
	Republican	Carmelita "C.L." Larrabaster	19,080	16.9
Total votes			112,820	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Shirley Weber (incumbent)	147,994	65.4
	Republican	John Moore	78,367	34.6
Total votes			226,361	100

References

1. "Democrats Win Supermajority in California Assembly". NBC San Diego. November 15, 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
2. Walker, Mark (November 18, 2012). "Shirley Weber forges path with historic win". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
3. "Chased out of Arkansas as a child, Shirley Weber won't back down in California Capitol". CalMatters. August 31, 2017.
4. "Department of Africana Studies: Faculty". San Diego State University. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
5. "State Assemblymember" (PDF). November 6, 2102 General Election. Secretary of State, State of California. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
6. Bowler, Matthew (August 4, 2014). "Assemblywoman Shirley Weber Wants To Make Chula Vista University A Reality". KPBS. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
7. Staff, KCRA (2020-12-23). "Gov. Newsom nominates Shirley Weber as California's first Black secretary of state". KCRA. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
8. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/calif-senate-confirms-asm-shirley-weber-as-secretary-of-state-1st-black-person-to-hold-title/2505542/
9. https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/01/29/shirley-weber-sworn-in-as-californias-first-black-secretary-of-state/
10. "Chased out of Arkansas as a child, Shirley Weber won't back down in California Capitol". CALmatters. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
11. "Biography". Office of California State Assemblymember Shirley Weber. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
12. https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/01/27/sen-atkins-endorses-dr-akilah-weber-to-succeed-her-mother-in-state-assembly/

External links

• Government website
• Campaign website
• Appearances on C-SPAN

• Profile at Vote Smart