Former California State Senate Member, Ellen Corbett has sadly passed away. She was announced dead by Assembly member Liz Ortega in a statement on social media that read “I am saddened by the passing of Bay Area leader and my friend Ellen Corbett. Ellen dedicated her life to public service, becoming the 2nd woman ever to serve as CA Senate Majority Leader & recently serving as EBRPD Director. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.”
Who was Ellen Corbett?
Only the second woman in history to hold the position, Senator Ellen M. Corbett completed two terms in the State Senate before taking on the role of Senate Majority Leader from 2010 to 2014. In his capacity as Majority Leader, Senator Corbett oversaw Senate Floor operations and assisted in determining the Democratic agenda. She worked on a wide range of policy issues impacting Californians and East Bay people during her legislative tenure, with a special emphasis on those aimed at bolstering the state’s economy, defending consumers, and safeguarding our natural resources while promoting the expansion of our green economy.
Senator Corbett is a lawyer and civic activist who has written more than 160 measures that have been enacted. In addition to introducing chaptered legislation, Senator Corbett also spearheaded the effort to include $2 million for brain mapping research in conjunction with the federal BRAIN Initiative, which aims to help identify the causes and treatments for brain injuries and disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and mental illness. Other causes and bills that Senator Corbett supported benefitted residents throughout California included fighting for the safety of children and consumers’ personal and financial data on social media and websites.
Senator Corbett fought for approval of the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program to assist child victims of human trafficking, increased protections for assisted living residents in cases of licensee noncompliance, and support for the Early Start program, which provides intensive counseling for young children at risk of developing autism and other developmental disabilities, while serving as Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee 3 on Health and Human Services.
About Ellen Corbett
In his capacity as Chair of the Select Committee on Emerging Technology: Biotechnology and Green Energy Jobs, Senator Corbett has conducted numerous hearings across California to address the critical significance of brain mapping and Cal-BRAIN research, as well as new initiatives in clean and green technology that boost the state’s economy and combat climate change.
As the chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Senator Corbett also steered marriage equality legislation through committee approval, bringing California one step closer to guaranteeing that every Californian has the freedom to wed the person of their choosing for the first time in a state legislature in the United States. In the constituency, Senator Corbett has a lengthy history of serving the people. She served as a City Councilmember and was the first woman elected Mayor of San Leandro.
Prior to that, she worked as an attorney, community college professor and civic activist. A native Californian raised in the East Bay, Senator Corbett attended local schools and California State University, Hayward. She holds degrees from McGeorge School of Law and the University of California, Davis. Senator Corbett was the proud mother of her successful son, Ryan Boehme, who achieved national Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
