SWAC welcomes the newly hired City of Sacramento Police Chief, Kathy Lester, a 27-year veteran, and the agency’s 46th and first woman to lead the Sacramento Police Department. Women make up roughly 12% of sworn law enforcement positions nationwide, and only 3% of executive level positions, according to the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). Chief Lester’s hire is significant as it comes on the heels of the retirement of Chief Daniel Hahn, Sacramento’s first Black Police Chief. We applaud Chief Hahn for his commitment to service in law enforcement and community for over 34 years.

Chief Lester began working for the Police Department in 1994 as a dispatcher. She became a community service officer in 1995 and was sworn-in as an officer in 1996. She’s worked as a patrol and traffic officer, along with jobs in recruiting, internal affairs, criminal intelligence and as an executive lieutenant in the North Patrol Command. She leads with a commitment to diversity, equity, accountability and innovation. Her rise to Chief of Police is a powerful message to girls and young women throughout our city. SWAC looks forward to the vision and mission of Chief Lester and is committed to working in partnership with her to ensure continued progress, collaboration, accountability, transparency and diversity that is inclusive of all communities with a focused lens on women and girls, LGBTQ and communities of color.

SWAC is honored to pay tribute to an amazing woman, leader, community and civil rights activist,
nurse and the first elected female Mayor of Sacramento. Mayor Anne Rudin earned the respect and admiration
of all those that knew and worked with her. Anne blazed a trail for many women business and
community leaders while being an inspiration for young girls & women throughout our community.
She was a tireless champion who left an indelible mark on Sacramento. ~ Nolice Edwards, SWAC Chair

Mayor Anne Rudin was an intelligent and dedicated leader not only for the City of Sacramento but the entire region. She did not hesitate to speak “her truth” and was driven by a commitment to public service that at times meant not yielding to popular sentiment. One of Mayor Rudin’s many accomplishments was her advocacy and support for Sacramento’s light rail system. In 1985 I arrived in Sacramento as the Assistant GM of SacRT and was impressed to meet Anne, the first elected woman Mayor of Sacramento, leading a City Council where four of eight council members were women. During her tenure, Anne and I worked closely on developing business support for both the first countywide sales tax and development fee for funding public transit and air quality improvements. Mayor Anne Rudin was a master at “getting things done” by finding common ground and cultivating mutual respect and collaboration. ~ Wendy J. Hoyt, SWAC

Mayor Anne Rudin was the first Mayor in Sacramento to understand the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community and take action to make our lives better. She wasn’t afraid to openly deal with LGBTQ+ issues and was a strong supporter of the CARES Center and efforts to support people with AIDS. Gary Miller, an LGBT leader and former schoolboard member, worked with Mayor Rudin to pass a domestic partnership ordinance for city workers. Sacramento was one of the first cities to provide equal benefits to LGBTQ+ couples and their families. Mayor Rudin was an Ally who blazed an important trail for LGBTQ+ people and she will be eternally loved by all of us. ~ Rosanna Herber, SWAC, SMUD Board Member

 Click here to see Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin’s political career in pictures (Sacramento Bee)

Have you ever wanted to be on a City of Sacramento Board or Commission? Now is a great time to apply. Many City Boards and Commission terms will end at the end of the year, so there will be a lot of vacancies soon.

The Sacramento Women and Girls Advancement Coalition is holding an application workshop in the next couple of weeks. Join us and we’ll get you started on your application, answer questions, and walk you through the process. It is an easy application and we’ll do it together.

Please join us to take your first step to becoming a Sacramento City Board or Commission member.

December 4, 2020 at 7 p.m.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73237536060?pwd=a3A4RU1sS0Vld2hJZmhEY1lBNzZ0UT09 
Meeting ID: 732 3753 6060
Passcode: Commission

Please forward this invitation to anyone who you think would be a good commissioner. RSVP to mfidell@yahoo.com and a list of handy links will be forwarded to you.

SWAC continues to OPPOSE the Mayoral Accountability & Community Act of 2020

The proposed charter change was heard before the City Council last week – community voices were in solidarity voicing strong opposition to the proposal. The measure is scheduled for a vote by the City Council on 8/4/20 – Item #1 on the agenda.

Call (916) 808-7213 and Dial 1 to make a comment

Submit public comments electronically via eComment. Call or email your individual council member and voice your opposition – contact information for each member can be found on the City’s official website.