Ellen Corbett

• Biography:

  Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was elected in 2006 to represent the 10th Senate District, an East Bay district that includes the cities of San Leandro, Fremont, Hayward, Union City, Pleasanton, Milpitas and Newark and part of San Jose, as well as the communities of Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and Sunol.

  A former member of the state Assembly (1998-2004), Sen. Corbett has a long history of public service in the district. She served as a city councilmember and mayor of San Leandro and worked as an attorney, community college professor and civic activist.

  During her Assembly tenure, she chaired the Judiciary Committee and the Revenue & Taxation Committee. Her legislative record includes legislation to reduce prescription drug costs, restore wetlands along the Bay, protect consumer rights and increase penalties for discrimination against the disabled.

  Sen. Corbett attended local schools in the East Bay, including Chabot Community College and California State University, Hayward. She graduated from the University of California, Davis and McGeorge Law School. Prior to her legislative career, Sen. Corbett practiced civil law.