Keynote Speaker — Barbara Friedman
Former Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-Los Angeles) was elected to the Assembly in a special election on July 31, 1991. She represented the 40th District, which includes Van Nuys and portions of Canoga Park, Encino, North Hollywood, Northridge, Panorama City, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Sun Valley.
In the Legislature, Former Assemblywoman Friedman successfully focused on three issue areas: health, women, and children. She won passage of landmark breast cancer legislation that created a statewide research and early detection program. The law established the most far reaching breast cancer program ever launched by a state and is financed by the first cigarette tax to pass the Legislature in 27 years.
In the 1993-94 session, Ms. Friedman also authored the Battered Women Support Act of 1994—one of the most significant domestic violence initiatives in California. The legislation funds domestic violence prosecution units and increases by eightfold state support for battered women shelters.
Barbara Friedman has a long history of community and public service. Preceding her election, she served as Chief Deputy to Los Angeles City Controller Rick Tuttle and worked as Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Burt Margolin. Ms. Friedman graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
Barbara Friedman is now working for Los Angeles Health Plan, a public organization created to serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Los Angeles County. Ms. Friedman is responsible for developing program policy initiatives that will improve the shelter status of the members and community it serves.
