Dawn Crawford vs San Bernardino's Dirty County Politicians and  Officials

By Chris Levister

"She has the wherewithal, the experience, the intelligence and the substance. She's a leader. I'm proud to call her my sister, to call her my friend."

That was outgoing Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez minutes after he helped his top lieutenant Majority Leader Karen Bass corral the votes for her historic victory. 

With a resounding "aye" from both Democrats and Republicans the state Assembly on Thursday unanimously elected Bass, a former physician's assistant, to become the 67th speaker, arguably the second most powerful job in state government and the nation's first African-American woman to lead a legislative body.

As news of the bipartisan vote spread blogger's websites crashed and Capitol phone lines jammed. "It was a magical moment. People really do like her," said friend and fellow Democrat Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto)

Known for her energy, passion and ambition, Bass 54, established herself as a Democratic leader in the Legislature by promoting child welfare and social justice issues.

She was the driving force behind a report issued last year by the Legislative Black Caucus called "The State of Black California" which tracked the health, educational and economic well-being of African-American Californians.

A native of Los Angeles, she grew up surrounded by strong leaders who instilled the importance of hard work andquiet resolve. Bass' parents did not live to see her political assent, but the daughter they raised will take a calm, methodical, honest approach to California's problems say those who have worked with her.

"She's a team builder with a gift for drawing out people's best work, a digger who pursues the roots of problems and empathetic soul with a keen understanding of seemingly small things, such as foster kids needing money for a prom dress" said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, executive director of Community Coalition, a non-profit group Bass founded in 1990 to shine the light on the crime, addiction and hopelessness brought on by crack cocaine trafficking. After the 1992 riots, she worked to replace liquor stores with more wholesome enterprises, increase foster care funding and change the direction of low performing schools.

Karen Bass: First Black Woman Elected Speaker of California’s Assembly with Fabian Nunez (l) and Assemblymember Sandre Swanson (r).

"She livesup to the definition of a leader, graceful under pressure, motivating people to work together to accomplish great things," said Carter.

"When I came to Sacramento as a freshman legislator she took me under her wing, inspired me to see that nothing is impossible, she'd say, 'there are ways that lead to everything and if we have sufficient will, we should always have sufficient means'." 

Following her historic election the speaker-elect took time to talk with members of the California Black Media reflecting on her lifelong commitment to grass roots organizing. 

"My life has been defined by the fight for social justice. I won't rest until we've created a society where we have figured out how to provide healthcare for our population, educate our children and where no sector of society - in particular children - falls through the cracks."

Acknowledging Nunez's support during her two terms she said Latinos and African-Americans share similar values such as understanding the importance of a good education, working hard and loving our families. "It is false to assume that we cannot work together," said Bass.

She supports universal health care and calls education a festering priority. "Until healthcare reform becomes a reality I will support quality legislation that improves access to healthcare for all Californians. Proposed budget cuts for the people who teach our children and doctor's who treat our poor are extremely troubling."

On the state budget crisis, "it's one of the most daunting problems we face. It threatens programs and services across the board. There is a need for massive reform of the state's tax and budgetary system," said Bass.

Bass bested 10 colleagues to capture the coveted speakership. The race had been a 10-way deadlock until Nunez brokered a deal that put her over the top. Bass has been a top lieutenant to the fellow Democrat who served as Assembly leader since 2004. But Nunez will be forced from office by term limits at the end of 2008.

Colleagues describe Bass as 'unflappable' and 'compassionate', her smile is almost constant, but, Bass has shown that she's no push - over on or off the floor. She holds brown belts in two martial arts tae kwon and hapkido and although she never picks a fight she can certainly handle one, says her district director and longtime friend Sylvia Castillo. "She's tough as nails, sometimes people mistakenly underestimate her quiet capacity to lead."

Following the election, Governor Schwarzenegger called Bass "a coalition builder and inspiration to all Californians."

As speaker, Bass will be responsible for running the daily operations of the 80-member Assembly, negotiating California's $141-billion budget with the governor and other legislative leaders, raising money and organizing campaigns to maintain a Democratic majority.  She will serve roughly two years.

"For the first time, we have a woman in the 'Big Five' negotiations on the budget, healthcare, prison reform and other divisive policy issues," said Sen. Darrell Steinberg, the Sacramento Democrat who will take over the upper house leadership this year.

"She's incredibly intelligent, unflappable and committed to good public policy. Her politics are about working to ensure that every young person, no matter who they are, receives a full opportunity to succeed."