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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Francisco County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Jose Medina

Candidate for
Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of San Francisco; Assembly District 12

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

José Medina was appointed as a full-time member of the California Integrated Waste Management Board on April 14, 2000, by Governor Davis to represent the public. He was elected Board Vice Chair in August 2002. As a Board Member, Mr. Medina has demonstrated his interest in expanding and developing markets for the use of recycled content materials, cross-border issues, environmental justice, and assisting local governments to meet their AB 939 mandates. Mr. Medina's interest in Indian issues has also drawn him to work closely with several tribal governments.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Medina served as Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where he managed the Departments nearly $8 billion budget and 20,000 employees working to build, maintain, and operate the largest state transportation system in the country.

Mr. Medina has a wide variety of experiences in labor, politics, and public service.

He served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he chaired the Housing and Community Development Committee. While a member of the Board, Mr. Medina held hearings, presented resolutions, and participated in public events that addressed issues related to the city's waste collection, transportation, and disposal of commercial and residential waste and solid waste recycling efforts. Mr. Medina has also served as a member of the San Francisco Police Commission and on the San Francisco Board of Permit Appeals.

Mr. Medina has actively encouraged public support for the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners' composting project and for park playground safety mats in the Mission area made from recycled waste tires.

Mr. Medina attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business and earned a law degree from the University of California's Hastings College of Law and a bachelor's degree in urban studies from San Francisco State University. Jose Medina has a solid 40-year record of accomplishment and public service to the people of San Francisco.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Three Mayors - Dianne Feinstein, Art Agnos and Willie Brown - have acknowledged Jose Medina's experience and ability by appointing him to City commissions that require exceptional skills, sound judgment, community involvement and accountability.

  • Vice-Chair, California Integrated Waste Management Board (2000 to present)
  • Executive Director, California Department of Transportation CalTrans (1999 + 2000)
  • Member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1997 + 1999)
  • Police Commissioner (1996)
  • Police Commissioner (1988 - 1990)
  • Member, Board of Permit Appeals (1986 - 1988)
  • Member, Relocation Appeals Board (1984 - 1986)
  • Elected Member, San Francisco Democratic Central Committee (1996 to 1999)
  • Executive Board, State Democratic Party Central Committee (1992 to 1999)

EDUCATION

  • Harvard Graduate School of Business
  • JD, UC Hastings College of the Law
  • BA, San Francisco State University with degree in Urban Studies
  • City College of San Francisco (Student Body President)
  • Recipient, Robert F. Kennedy Fellowship, one of only twenty-one fellows selected across the country by the Kennedy family, who reflected the spirit of Robert F. Kennedy; receiving a one year paid scholarship to work in the San Francisco community.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

HOMELESSNESS

  • President, St. Anthony's Foundation (1985-1990) providing dining room, clothing, furniture, employment, senior services, mental health, and alcohol and drug rehabilitation services to thousands of San Franciscans each year.

PLANNING

  • Planning Assistant, City of Berkeley Planning Department (1978)
  • Member, Community Development Council (1988-1994) Coalition of organizations from Potrero Hill, Hunters Point/Bay View, Mission, Chinatown, Bernal Heights, and Hayes Valley, monitoring the planning process and effect the Mission Bay development would have on housing, open space, local employment, job training and opportunity and minority contracting.

SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS

  • Chair, Tenderloin Neighborhood Task Force on Public Safety (1996 to 1999)
  • Leader, "Adopt-a-Block" Community Policing Program (1996 to 1999)
  • Police Commissioner (1996 and 1988-1990)

SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS (continued)

  • Emergency Response Volunteer, Mayor's Office of Public Safety, 1989
Provided emergency aid to earthquake victims, relocating thirty Western Addition and Mission District families to emergency housing and raising over $20,000 for St. Peter's Housing Committee.
  • Member, District Attorney's Hate Crimes Task Force (1992-1993)
  • Deputy Court Clerk, San Francisco Municipal Court (1964-1968)

FAMILY SERVICES

  • Member, United Way Leadership and Resource Development Committee (1989 to 1997)
  • Boardmember, Stonestown YMCA (1992-1995)
  • Boardmember, Latino Alcoholism Counseling Center (1995 to 1997)
  • Boardmember, Catholic Charities (1978-1983)
  • President, Franciscan Father's Poverello Fund (1980-1985), approved grants to social change organizations.
  • Member, American Jewish Committee, Hispanic Jewish Task Force (1991-1993)
  • Member, Archdiocese Social Justice Commission (1970's)
  • Library Clerk, San Francisco Public Library (1962) Brought "the library" to local neighborhoods via the San Francisco Bookmobile.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

  • Founder and Executive Director, Instituto Laboral de la Raza Public Interest Law Firm (1982-1995) workers' rights and labor mediation organization; represented people facing discrimination for their HIV status and people facing prejudice based on sexual orientation.
  • Founding Member, La Raza Centro Legal (1970) An organization founded to represent indigenous and low-income residents of the Bay Area.
  • Founder and Boardmember, The Progressive Way (1989-1995) contributing over $130,000 per year to more than 50 Bay Area Progressive Way non-profit agencies.
  • Founder, Latino Contractor's Association (1969-1970)
  • Founding Member, La Raza Graphics Center (1972-1982)
  • Founding Member, Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights & Services (1989-1992)
  • Founder, Director and Boardmember, La Raza Information Center (1970-1978)
  • Founding Community Supporter, The Women's Building (1970's)

LABOR

  • Field Representative, United Public Employees, SEIU Local 790, (1995 to 1997)
  • Member, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (1982 to 1997)
  • Delegate, San Francisco Labor Council (1976-1978)
  • Founding Member, "We do the Work", National Board of Directors (1990-1995) national film and video program which depicts positive images of working people.

AWARDS

  • State Manager of the Year, Professional Engineers in California Government (1999)
  • Recipient, Martin Luther King "Living the Dream" Award (1987)
  • Filipino Americans for Equal Rights Leadership Award (1988)
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award (1992)
  • Alice B. Toklas Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club Award (1989)
  • Public Service Award, Mission Education Projects Inc. (1996)
  • United Way of the Bay Area Leadership Award (1995)
  • Franciscan Friars Poverello Award (1994)
  • Founding Member Award, La Raza Information Center (1995)
  • Gerbode Foundation Professional Development Award (1991)

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 16, 2004 19:06
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