Retired-Federal Government-Congress

Susan is a former American politician who was elected to serve ten terms as the U.S. Representative for California’s 53rd district. She was a member of the New Democrat Coalition and portrayed herself as someone who was willing to work across party lines, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, and as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

With two sons and three grandchildren, Susan and her husband Steve have spent their 50 years of marriage helping the greater community where they live. She received her master’s degree in social work before embarking on a political career. She became President of the League of Women Voters in 1977, then President of the Board of the San Diego Unified School District in 1983. From there she was elected to the California State Assembly for three terms, and finally to Congress from 2000 to 2020—totaling 35 years as an elected public servant. Susan’s father was a very loyal Rotarian from whom she learned the importance of service.

While acting as President of the Aaron Price Fellows Program, she mentored our now mayor, Todd Gloria. This, along with her start at the League of Women Voters, influences her passion for joining Rotary committees who engage in mentoring and apprenticeship programs as well as workforce preparation opporunities. The Afghan Refugee Outreach program is dear to her heart as she spent a lot of time working on solutions regarding our Afganistan presence while she was in office.

Susan believes “all Rotarians share a love for our communial responsibilites and caring for one another.”

She is grateful to Amnon Ben-Yehuda, Alan Spector and Richard Eger who are her sponsors.