Candidate for
Council Member; City of Carson

JULIE RUIZ-RABER BIOGRAPHY

Julie, the ninth child in a family of 15, was born in Clovis, New Mexico, to parents Jose Perez Ruiz and Albina Sena. Julie and her husband, Brian, moved to Carson with her family in 1972 because they wanted their children to be raised in an ethnically diverse community.

Her first civic involvement came at the young age of 19 when Julie became the founding president of the Edwards Air Force Base Airman Wives' Club. She is the past president of the Carson Women's Club (the city's official hostesses) and played a major role in the club's successful fundraising events for Carson's youth and successfully increased the club's membership to over 200 members during her tenure. She also served four terms as president of the Friends of the Carson Library. Julie has also performed the duties of P.T.A. president and taught Spanish speaking children to read English.

Outside her political career and in between volunteer work in the community, Julie has been teaching an Extension Course at Los Angeles Harbor College for over 34 years.

Julie served as First Vice President of the National League of Cities Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO) and was also a member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) Board of Directors. She also served as chair of the Carson's Public Relations Commission for 2002-2003 and represented the City of Carson on several local and state committees including the So California Association of Governments (SCAG).

In March 2002, Assembly member Jenny Oropeza selected Julie Ruiz Raber as California's 55th Assembly District "Woman of the Year" and was presented with a special award from Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson during a special session in the State Capitol in Sacramento. In the same year, she was honored by the City of Carson for her leadership in the Cinco de Mayo Planning and Unity Day Latino subcommittee. She was recognized as a "Hero of the Community" and as "Democrat of the Year" for California's 55th Assembly District. Even prior to being an elected official, Julie Ruiz Raber is a well known figure in the Carson community because of her involvement and leading roles in various civic organizations and community programs and strives to be a role model for women in the community.

Julie Ruiz-Raber was elected into office in March 2003. As a council member, her first order of business was to establish Cesar Chavez Day, which is held every year in the month of March. Julie retired in February 2004 as the administrative assistant to the Vice President and Plant Manager of Farmer Brothers Coffee in Torrance California where she was employed since 1980.

Julie's more recent accolades include the 2005 NAACP Legislative Award, the 2005 Cesar Chavez Community Service Award, and the High Steps Achiever's Community Partner Award, both given by the California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). She was also named by the Carson Coordinating Council as one of the "Six Magnificent Women for 2006."

Most recently, she was named as Honoree for the Partner in Learning Award and elected to the California Conservation Corps Board of Directors working with "at risk" youth and is currently a Eucharistic Minister at St Philomena Church in Carson.

Julie and Brian have raised four sons and have 10 grandchildren. Julie and Brian have also been married for 49 years, which is a testimonial to their commitment and ability to embrace challenges!