Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Rancho Palos Verdes

he is a mediator, educator, public relations specialist, community volunteer and local watercolor artist. She has also engaged in political analysis as a commentator, and has appeared on many television and radio shows. Mrs. Brooks gained national recognition during her high profile 1994 congressional campaign and subsequent election contest with Democrat incumbent, Jane Harman. A former Mayor and City Councilwoman of Rancho Palos Verdes, Brooks has a long history of community service.

During her tenure as Mayor, Brooks city earned the "Good Governance Award" by the Reason Foundation for implementing budget changes which enhanced services yet did not raise taxes.

Mrs. Brooks currently serves on several Boards including, the California YMCA Youth and Government Governing Board of the nationally acclaimed high school model legislature and court program, and the Las Profesionales Auxiliary of the National Assistance League in September 2007, Brooks was appointed to the California State Advisory Commission on Special Education by Governor Schwarzenegger. She is also a director of the recently formed non-partisan, non-profit organization, Politiquest®. Brooks has extensive Board and Commission experience from her days as Mayor, City Councilwoman and Planning Commissioner.

A guest on numerous television shows including CNN & Co, Politically Incorrect and Week in Review, Brooks is well known for her ability to tackle any issue, particularly challenges of the California public education system. She has also appeared on numerous radio shows including NPR's Which Way L.A., with Warren Olney, KABC's The Michael Jackson Show, The Hugh Hewitt Show.

Brooks, was born Susan Mittermeier to Edward and Loretta Mittermeier in Queens, New York. Her father was a milkman and her mother a school secretary. After earning her B.S. from Buffalo State University in Art Education and M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College on a full scholarship, she taught in the same Brooklyn ghetto in which her father delivered milk. Once identified as a `bleeding-heart liberal', Brooks credits her roots and experience toward her current philosophy as that of a `passionate conservative.'

Brooks spent nine years as a Special Education Teacher/Administrator for the Arlington, VA public schools system and Disability Communicator on Capitol Hill before moving to Palos Verdes, CA with her family in 1985. During those lean years while she earned the income to put her husband through Georgetown Law School, Susan worked as many as three jobs. In the evenings, Susan taught art classes in the Adult Education Program of Arlington Schools. She quickly became a leader on school consolidation and other local issues. From 1989-1995, Brooks held elected offices as Planning Commissioner, City Councilwoman and Mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes (pop. 42,000). During her tenure, she turned a $2 million budget deficit into a $2 million budget surplus and downsized bureaucracy by 25% through privatization, all without raising taxes. Her actions earned the Reason Foundation's "Good Governance" award.

The Republican House leadership recruited Brooks to run for Congress in 1994. After signing the Contract with America, Brooks returned to her district with the polls trending in her favor, despite being vastly outspent by Harman. Election-day results showed Brooks winning at the ballot box and holding an eight-point margin in the preliminary absentee vote count. She was summoned to Washington, D.C. by Speaker-elect Gingrich to participate in the GOP leadership transition team as one of seven 'Members-Elect.' Late absentee ballots, however, reversed the election the week after Thanksgiving, and Brooks lost by 3/10 of one percent of votes cast (812 of 215,000).

A post-election study turned up over 2,000 illegal votes, which became the focus of a House investigation into voter fraud, resulting in subsequent changes to the California election system. California Secretary of State Bill Jones lauded Brooks' election contest "for saving taxpayers money and encouraging fair and honest elections."

In 1996, Susan mounted another strong and credible challenge to the incumbent. One week before the election Brooks was five points ahead, but Harman's unprecedented Los Angeles-wide network television campaign prevailed. Despite losing, Brooks topped the Republican ticket in her district, receiving 5 percent more than Bob Dole. Her race was closer than any other Los Angeles County challenger.

When Harman entered the 1998 gubernatorial race, Susan ran a third time. However, she lost to GOP Assemblyman and former city council colleague, Steve Kuykendall, as Democrats crossed party lines to vote for him in the state's first and only open primary election. Mrs. Brooks immediately endorsed the Assemblyman, who then narrowly beat a newcomer. He served for one term until the wealthy former Congresswoman Harman was elected again in 2000.

In 1999, Mrs. Brooks was recruited by former Los Angeles officials to undergo training as a Mediator. Following certification by the City of L.A. in Conflict Resolution, Brooks earned further credentials with the U.S. Postal Service as an external Mediator; she continues this work today through their REDRESS program. Brooks re-entered the public school system in Palos Verdes as a high school Special Education teacher in 2000. In 2005, Brooks left teaching to embark on a period of personal introspection and growth. In between her growing mediation practice, Susan enjoys painting in the beautiful environs of her home, the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Susan was married to James Brooks for 30 years before their divorce in 2005. She has two adult children, Aaron and Meredith, who are each contributing members of society through their respective professional careers.

VOTE NOVEMBER 8, 2011