Introduction
Shirley Nash Weber (born September 20, 1948) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Democrat representing the 79th Assembly District, which includes portions of San Diego, Chula Vista, and National City and all of Lemon Grove and La Mesa.
Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, Weber served on the San Diego Board of Education, and as a Professor of African-American Studies at San Diego State University.
A member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, she is the first African American to be elected to the California State Legislature south of Los Angeles.
Early life and education
Her parents were from Arkansas; she was raised in a poor section of Los Angeles. Her father had only a sixth-grade education but pushed Weber and her seven siblings to strive for excellence. She went to the University of California, Los Angeles where she earned three degrees by the time she was 26: a Bachelor of Arts in 1970, a Master of Arts in 1971, and a Ph.D in communication in 1975.
Academic career
Weber is a professor emeritus of Africana studies at San Diego State University. She helped to establish that department in 1972 and became its chair, teaching there for 40 years. She was president of the National Council for Black Studies from 2002 to 2006.
Elected office
She served as a board member and later president of the San Diego Board of Education from 1988 to 1996. She also served as chairwoman of the San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission.
In Fall 2011, she was recruited to run for the Assembly by Assemblymember Toni Atkins. Atkins has regarded Weber as an inspiring role model ever since hearing her speak as a school board member. In November 2012 Weber defeated her Republican opponent, Mary England, by 61.7% to 38.3%. Weber says her focus as an assemblymember will be education.
Tenure
Weber sits on the Assembly's Committee on Higher Education. She has been promoting the development of a state university in Chula Vista, possibly beginning as a satellite or extension campus of the California State University system.
2014 California State Assembly
| California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary election | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Shirley Weber (incumbent) | 35,886 | 99.7 | |
| American Independent | George R. Williams (write-in) | 115 | 0.3 | |
| Total votes | 36,001 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Shirley Weber (incumbent) | 49,264 | 61.9 | |
| American Independent | George R. Williams | 30,266 | 38.1 | |
| Total votes | 79,530 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2016 California State Assembly
| California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary election | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Shirley Weber (incumbent) | 64,395 | 67.7 | |
| Republican | John Moore | 30,711 | 32.3 | |
| Total votes | 95,106 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | John Moore | 50,687 | 35.4 | |
| Democratic | Shirley Weber (incumbent) | 92,285 | 64.56 | |
| Total votes | 142,972 | 100.0 | ||
Personal life
She is a widow whose husband, Judge Daniel Weber, died in 2002. She has two children.