Susan Davis (politician)
| Susan Davis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 53rd district | |
|
Assumed office January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 49th district | |
|
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Bilbray |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Issa |
| Member of the California State Assembly | |
|
In office 1995–2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Susan Carol Alpert April 13, 1944 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Steven J. Davis |
| Residence | San Diego, California |
| Alma mater |
University of California, Berkeley University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Social worker |
| Religion | Judaism |
Susan Carol Alpert Davis (born April 13, 1944) is the U.S. Representative for California's 53rd congressional district, serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes central and eastern portions of the city of San Diego, as well as eastern suburbs such as El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove.[1]
Early life, education and career
Davis was born Susan Carol Alpert in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the daughter of Dorothy M. "Dora" (née Wexler) and Dr. George R. Alpert. All of her grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia.[2] She has spent most of her life in California. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley where she was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority.[3] She earned a master's degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her husband Steve Davis was a doctor in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After returning to California, she became a social worker in San Diego.[4]
Early political career
Davis was elected to the San Diego School Board in 1983. She served there until 1992, spending eight years of the time as president or vice president of the body. In 1994, she was elected to the California State Assembly, and was reelected in 1996 and 1998. In the Assembly, Davis chaired the Committee on Consumer Protection, Government Efficiency and Economic Development. She authored a state law giving women direct access to their OB/Gyn doctors without requiring a referral from their primary care physicians.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 2000, Davis challenged three-term Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray in what was then the 49th District, winning with 50 percent of the vote. Her district was renumbered the 53rd District after the 2000 Census redistricting. She has been reelected six times without much difficulty. She is the first Democrat to represent what is now the 53rd district for more than one term in over half a century. The only other Democrat to represent this district since the Harry Truman administration, Lynn Schenk, was toppled by Bilbray in the 1994 Republican wave.
Davis has introduced a federal version of the California OB/Gyn law she authored at the start of every Congress since she was elected. Provisions of her OB/Gyn bill were included in the health care reform bill enacted into law.
In 2011, Davis voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.[5]
Davis is a member of the New Democrat Coalition and portrays herself as working across party lines. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. She also serves on the Education and Workforce Committee and the Committee on House Administration.
In 2012, Davis filed a lawsuit to recover over $150,000 in campaign funds from her former campaign treasurer, Kinde Durkee.[6] Durkee was later sentenced to eight years in prison for fraud after pleading guilty to stealing seven million dollars from more than fifty people.[7]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
- Congressional Mental Health Caucus
- House Mentoring Caucus (Co-Chair)
- International Conservation Caucus
- Pro-Choice Caucus
- Congressional COPD Caucus
- Congressional EOD Caucus (Co-Chair)
Personal life
Davis and her husband Steve have two children and three grandchildren.
References
- ↑ "District 53" (PDF). California Redistricting Commission certified map. Healthy City. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/davissusan.htm
- ↑ http://www.dphie.org/distinguished.cfm
- ↑ http://www.house.gov/susandavis/bio.shtml
- ↑ http://www.ibtimes.com/ndaa-bill-how-did-your-congress-member-vote-384362
- ↑ McCutcheon, Michael; Barone, Chuck (2013). 2014 Almanac of American Politics. The University of Chicago Press.
- ↑ Campaign treasurer get 8 years for fraud
External links
- Congresswoman Susan Davis official U.S. House site
- Susan Davis for Congress
- Susan Davis at DMOZ
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
| California Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mike Gotch |
California State Assemblywoman, 76th District 1994-2000 |
Succeeded by Christine Kehoe |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Brian Bilbray |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 49th congressional district 2001-2003 |
Succeeded by Darrell E. Issa |
| Preceded by District Created |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 53rd congressional district 2003-Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by John Culberson R-Texas | United States Representatives by seniority 98th |
Succeeded by Sam Graves R-Missouri |