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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Sacramento County, CA March 8, 2005 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Doris Matsui

Candidate for
United States Representative; District 5

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

A native of the Central Valley, former White House official and accomplished civic leader, Doris Matsui has made her mark in local, national and international affairs. Mrs. Matsui has served as President and Board Chair of KVIE, Sacramento's public television station, and participated in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations, including the Junior League of Sacramento and the University of California Women's Club of Sacramento.

In 1992, Mrs. Matsui was an early supporter of then-Governor Bill Clinton and worked on his successful White House campaign. As President-elect, Clinton asked Mrs. Matsui to serve as a board member on his eight-person Presidential Transition Team, where she helped develop both early policy initiatives as well as assist in the formation of the President's cabinet. Following President Clinton's inauguration, Mrs. Matsui was among the first officials appointed to work in the White House, where she served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public Liaison.

At the White House, Doris coordinated relationships with both the private and public sectors to support the Clinton Administration's economic and budget priorities. She provided strong, steady leadership and a firm voice to ensure the needs of California and the voices of children, seniors, and minorities were heard in the halls of the White House. The policies and initiatives Doris worked on during her tenure at the White House included: measures to expand access to health insurance for children, legislation to hire new public school teachers and make college more affordable for working families, and an anti-crime law that included funding for 100,000 more police on the street and the toughest gun control provisions ever enacted. Doris also served as a leader in the Clinton Administration's fight to ensure that Congress did not erode women's right to choose.

During this time, she also chaired the Nonprofit Liaison Group, a group appointed by the President to strengthen relations between the federal government and nonprofit community.

Since leaving public service in 1998, Mrs. Matsui has worked as a Senior Advisor and Director of Government Relations and Public policy at the law firm Collier Shannon Scott.

Mrs. Matsui is a member of the Meridian International Center Board of Trustees, an organization that works in conjunction with the United States Department of State to conduct professional international exchange programs between the United States and 140 nations. Mrs. Matsui also serves on the Woodrow Wilson Center Board of Trustees and the California Institute Board of Directors.

Mrs. Matsui grew up in Dinuba, in California's Central Valley. She received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where she met her husband, Congressman Bob Matsui. On September 25, 2004, Bob and Doris celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 24, 2005 21:29
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