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Title: Deirdre Alpert Papers
Dates: 1990-2004
Collection number: LP384
Creator:
Deirdre Alpert, California Legislator
Collection Size:
22 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: California legislator Deirdre Alpert served as a State Assembly Member from 1990-1996, and as a State Senator from 1996-2004.
The Deirdre Alpert Papers consist of 22 cubic feet of records reflecting the interests and political activities of Alpert
during her 14 years in the California State Legislature. The records contain two series: bill files and subject files from
1990 to 2004.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Deirdre Alpert Papers, LP384:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Deirdre Alpert Papers following her final term in the State Legislature.
California legislator Deirdre Alpert, also known as Dede, was born on October 6, 1945 in New York City. She moved with her
family and established residence in California in 1962, studying government at Pomona College. Deirdre married Michael Alpert
in Los Angeles and moved back to the San Diego region in 1975. The couple produced three daughters, Alison, Kristin, and
Lehn. She was a member of the Solana Beach School District Board from 1983 until her election to the California Assembly
in 1990, serving as Board president in 1987. During this period, the Solana Beach School District began before-and-after
school childcare and preschool programs, created the county's first infant care center, and had two schools recognized by
California as distinguished schools.
In 1990, Alpert challenged Sunny Mojonnier for her district seat in the California Assembly. She ran for office at a time
when Assemblywoman Mojonnier was embroiled in controversies. Alpert utilized a grassroots campaign and the support of major
San Diego newspapers to win the election with 45.7% of the vote. In 1992, she moved to Coronado to run for an open Assembly
seat against Jeff Marston, which Alpert won with a 53.4% of the vote. Alpert solidified and extended her political presence
in typically conservative regions, even though her political stance on issues often contrasted with segments of the general
public. Thus, after terming out of the Assembly, Alpert used her reputation to anchor a successful jump to the Senate in
1996 and remained there until leaving due to term limits in 2004.
Throughout her legislative career, Deirdre Alpert involved herself with community issues, education, and the health and wellbeing
of women and children. She maintained her participation with many community and nationwide organizations such as the Parent
Teachers Association, the Girl Scouts, and was a volunteer court-appointed Special Advocate for Voices For Children aiding
children in crisis. Alpert was active with United Cerebral Palsy, having membership in its Solana Beach and county guilds.
As a Democrat during her California legislative career, Alpert championed legislative efforts relating to children and women,
the environment, education, the proper allocation of state funds to the San Diego region, and advocated legislation that would
enhance the prospects of local business growth and further economic development in her district. During her time in the legislature,
Alpert served on the following committees:
- Standing Committees
- Agriculture, 1996
- Education, 1991-1995
- *Chair, 1995
- Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1993-1995
- Health, 1991-1992
- Housing and Community Development, 1991-1992
- Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security, 1991-1995
- Public Safety, 1996
- Rules, 1993-1994
- Transportation, 1991-1992
- Televising the Assembly and Information Technology, 1996
- *Vice Chair, 1996
- Utilities and Commerce, 1993-1994
- Ways and Means, 1993-1994
- Subcommittees
- Public Safety - Juvenile Justice, 1996
- Tourism, 1993-1994
- Utilities and Commerce, 1993-1994
- Select Committees
- California Children, 1996
- California/Mexico Affairs, 1991-1994, 1996
- Marine Resources, 1996
- *Chair, 1996
- Urban Education Quality, 1996
- Youth and Drug Abuse Prevention, 1991-1993
- Youths At Risk,1993-1994
- *Chair, 1993-1994
- Standing Committees
- Appropriations, 1997-2004
- *Chair, 2001-2004
- Agriculture and Water Resources, 2001-2004
- Education, 1997-2004
- *Chair, 1999
- Equalization, 1997-1999
- Elections and Reapportionment, 2002
- Environmental Quality, 1997-1998
- Natural Resources and Wildlife, 1997-2004
- Revenue and Taxataion, 1997-2004
- *Chair, 1997-1998
- Subcommittees
- Appropriations - Fiscal Oversight and Bonded Indebtedness, 1997-2004
- *Chair, 2003-2004
- Educaiton - Higher Education, 2004
- Select Committees
- California Federal Water Program, 2001-2002
- California Horse Racing Industry, 2002-2004
- California's Wine Industry, 1998, 2001-2004
- Citizen Participation in Government, 1998
- Community Development, 1998
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving In Our Schools, 1998
- College and University Admissions and Outreach, 1998, 2001-2004
- Defense and Aerospace Industry, 2004
- Economic Development, 1998, 2001-2004
- Educational Standards and Teacher Training, 1997-1998
- *Chair, 1997
- Family, Child, and Youth Development, 2001-2004
- *Chair, 2001-2004
- Genetics, Genetic Technologies, and Public Policy, 1997-1998, 2001-2004
- *Chair, 2001-2004
- Higher Education Admissions and Outreach, 1998-1999
- Governmental Oversight, 2001-2004
- Prison Management, 1998
- Urban Economic Development, 2001-2002
- Joint Committees
- Develop a Master Plan for Education, 2001-2004
- *Chair, 2001-2004
- Fisheries and Agriculture, 1998-1999, 2001-2004
- *Vice-Chair, 1999-2004
- Headwaters, Forest, and Ecosystem Management Planning, 1998-1999
- Legislative Budget, 2001-2004
- Preparing California for the 21st Century, 2001
The Deirdre Alpert Papers consist of 22 cubic feet of records reflecting the interests and political activities of Alpert
during her 14 years in the California State Legislature. The records contain two series: bill files and subject files from
1990 to 2004.
The bill files chronicle Alpert's legislation and often focus on California's educational system, maintaining and increasing
environmental protections within California, and furthering the health and protection of women. Of note are bills that closed
legal loopholes for peeping toms, aided stalking victims by protecting the public disclosure of addresses in public records,
increased sexual assault penalties for employers, and elevated the stringencies of breast cancer examinations. Alpert also
introduced legislation to improve education by requiring the integration of phonics, basic spelling, and computational skills
into school curriculums, requiring the systematic testing of K-12 academic skills, improving school bus safety, and requiring
children entering pre-school or kindergarten to have chicken pox vaccinations.
Deirdre Alpert also concerned herself with the environment. Her legislation targeted the payment of clean-up for environmental
damages by allocating the responsibility to the dumper, fought the expansion of oil drilling off the shores of southern California,
and advocated the development of artificial reefs using oil rig frameworks. Her efforts sought to improve the conditions
environmentally and economically for the San Diego region. She authored a controversial bill to extend gambling privileges
to cruise ships off-shore in order to preserve local business interests and advocated the tightening of tax requirements for
those who purchased luxury items and temporarily kept them out of state to avoid paying taxes.
The subject files contain expanded information on Alpert's legislation, background material on political topics facing legislative
members, press releases, awards bestowed upon Alpert, and information related to the development of the Capital Park Rose
Garden and its international connections.
Related Material at the California State Archives
Assembly Education Committee Records
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Records
Senate Appropriations Committee Records
Senate Education Committee Records
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Records
Senate Genetics, Genetic Technologies, and Public Policy Select Committee Records
Joint Committee to Develop a Master Plan for Education Records
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Alpert, Deirdre
Education
Environmental protection