The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Hillary Schallit

Assemblywoman Elaine White Alquist, pictured here with her husband, Al, announced on Jan. 26 that she would run again for office.

Alquist intends to run for re-election

Jan. 26 was a busy day for Assemblywoman Elaine White Alquist. First, she filed her papers to run for re-election in the 22nd district in 1998, and second, she announced plans to serve as chair of the newly created Committee on Aging.

In 1996, Alquist stepped into the shoes of now-state Sen. John Vasconcellos. Alquist, a Democrat who represents Sunnyvale and other cities in Santa Clara County, filed her declaration of intention on the first day candidates were allowed to do so, Jan. 26. Her name will appear on the June 2, 1998, primary election ballot.

In a prepared statement, Alquist said she originally ran for office to get California "back on track" with economic development, public education and health care.

"Since my election, I have worked hard to strengthen our local communities and build a brighter, safer future for California's children," Alquist said.

Her re-election statement came on the same day that Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante announced that Alquist would serve as chair of a new Committee on Aging.

The 13-member committee is now the Assembly's largest.

In addition to the aging committee, Alquist sits as chair of the Information Technology Committee. Her other duties include membership on the Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Education Committee.

Alquist won her seat in 1996 by beating Republican Karin Dowdy by a 25 percent margin.

Her goals for 1998 include affordable housing, especially for first-time buyers and seniors, increasing parental involvement in schools and comprehensive child-care programs for the children of working parents.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, February 4, 1998.
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