Candidate for
Mayor; City of Richmond

Gayle McLaughlin is currently serving on the Richmond City Council, having been elected in November of 2004.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, graduating summa cum laude. Her graduate studies include psychology and education.

Gayle has a background as an educator, and professional esperience in nonprofit leadership organizations promoting literacy, social justice, and environmental health. She has also been involved in nonprofit research and data-driven projects addressing the needs of disadvantaged youth.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Gayle was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a working class union family. She is the middle child of five daughters. Her father was a carpenter and member of the Carpenter's Union and her mother was a factory worker and a housewife.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

During the 80's, Gayle was an activist with the Central American solidarity movement and played an activist role in national networking efforts to unite progressives, and in coalition-building efforts with PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and the Rainbow Coalition.

Before she was elected to the Richmond City Council, as a Richmond Green, Gayle worked on various civil rights, human rights, environmental health, and living wage issues to preserve and improve the quality of life of our residents. On the Richmond City Council, Gayle continues to work on these issues and many more.

Gayle brought the entire Richmond City Council together to require the proper environmental oversight for the toxic Zeneca and UC Field Station sites. She championed the East Bay Regional Park District's purchase of Breuner Marsh to build a park for Richmond residents. She co-sponsored an initiative that repealed the 12-year practice of allowing Chevron to self-permit, self-inspect, and self-certify its own projects. Most recently, she was a key opponent of the ill-conceived toxic crematorium that was being proposed for North Richmond.

As a member of the Richmond City Council, Gayle serves as chair of the Rules and Procedures Committee and serves as liaison to the Arts and Culture Commission, the Recreation and Parks Commission, and the Library Commission.

Gayle has served on steering committees of the Richmond Greens, as well as having served on a host of steering committees for grassroots organizations in Chicago and the Bay Area.

In 2004, Gayle co-founded the Richmond Progressive Alliance, an alliance of Progressive Democrats, Greens and Independents coming together in progressive unity for a better and healthier Richmond.

She has most recently been a co-founder and steering member of Solar Richmond, a local program promoting solar power in the City; and Richmond Residents for a Responsible General Plan, a community organization committed to ensuring that the General Plan process will be transparent and open to public participation

Gayle has been and continues to be involved in the many critical political issues facing the City of Richmond, as well as critical global issues.

Gayle is an advocate for community-involved government, community-involved policing, and an open and transparent government. She supports a neighborhood and community-based approach to City governance. Gayle's election to the Richmond City Council occurred after the 2004 financial crisis as a reflection of the electorate's desire for a new and independent political direction.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Gayle graduated summa cum laude from Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts. She went on to 2 years graduate study in psychology at Rhode Island College, and additional graduate study in education at UC Berkeley Extension.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Gayle has a background as an educator and as a clinician for special needs children. She has also worked in the nonprofit field for such leadership and research organizations as the American Library Association (Division of Research and Statistics), the American Osteopathic Association, and the Family Resource Coalition.

Gayle's life-long social activism has placed her at the center of struggles for social and environmental justice, human rights, promotion of the arts and union advocacy.

In conjunction with her activist work, Gayle worked in various professions as a postal clerk, retail clerk, tutor, elderly care provider, and free-lance inter-office agent.

ARTS

Gayle has a special affinity for the arts and has been trained in dance. She has also been an advocate for the arts and for artists' coalitions and art unions. Gayle is committed to promoting the arts and community cultural development throughout Richmond.