Connie Conway

• Biography:

  Connie Conway was elected to the California Assembly on Nov. 4, 2008. Her two-year term began Dec. 1, 2008, shortly after The Sacramento Bee included her in a column entitled "five newcomers to watch" in the new legislative session.

  Connie served from 2001-2008 as a county supervisor in Tulare County. She chaired the board in 2005 and in 2008.

  Connie also chairs the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, an appointment she received from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 28-member partnership, which includes state agency secretaries, elected officials and members of the private sector, works to improve the economy and quality of life by making policy recommendations to the governor.

  In 2006, Connie served as president of the California State Association of Counties, which represents 58 counties at the state and federal levels. She is now a director of the National Association of Counties, chairs its membership committee, and works on its economic development committee.

  Connie also is a past state president of the Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership.

  In 2007, the Tulare Chamber of Commerce honored her as Woman of the Year. One person who nominated her for the award wrote: “She is a relentlessly dedicated public official who demonstrates her integrity by working – literally – seven days a week to serve her constituents. … She is personable, informal, humble, candid and charismatic. She seeks advice. She answers questions directly. She explains her positions well. Without exaggeration, she answers her cellular phone from dawn to midnight. This accessible, down-to-earth leadership style has earned Connie the respect of her constituents, and has developed allies across the state. She builds consensus because people know her beliefs and thought processes.”

  Connie has served as a director for the California Public Employee Post Employment Benefits Commission; the Tulare County Employees' Retirement Association; the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee; the California State Association of Counties’ Excess Insurance Authority; and the California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research.

  She is a member of the Tulare Kiwanis Club, Tulare City Historical Society, and the Tulare Hospital Foundation board of trustees. She was a founding member of Leadership Tulare. She has volunteered since 1980 at the World Ag Expo, and served on its board of directors since 2001. Before her election as supervisor, Connie served for six years as a director of the Tulare Redevelopment Agency. Before working as a full-time supervisor, she was a district manager of CorVel Corp., a nationally certified health care organization specializing in workers compensation disability management.

  Connie was born in Bakersfield on Sept. 25, 1950. Her father, John R. Conway, served as a Tulare County supervisor from 1981 until his death in 1991. Her mother, Clara Conway recently was honored for 40 years of employment at Tulare District Hospital.