There is a new sheriff in town and her name is Nancy Pelosi. She represents the Eighth Congressional District of California (San Francisco area). Most people only know her from the political advertisements (which rarely tell the whole story). Soon, Americans will get to know her well. Her stamp on American history is yet to be written. For those who may not know (she is a likely candidate for the Jay walking segment on the Tonight Show), Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker-Designate for the 110th Congress of the United States. Here is a little background for those who are unfamiliar with her resume.
Following the tradition of her father (who served for five terms in the Congress), Nancy Pelosi was elected to the Congress in 1987, the year following the midterm election of President Ronald Reagan's second term. Her district is one of the most Democratic Congressional Districts in the United States with only thirteen percent of registered voters being
Republican.
Fourteen years later, in 2001, the Democratic Conference in the U.S. House elected Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as the Minority Whip. The following year she was elected as the Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives (when Minority Leader Dick Gephardt stepped aside to run for President). As a result, in 2002, she became the first woman to
lead a major political party in the Congress.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has served on some of the most important Committees in the House of Representatives, including the House Appropriations Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. (In fact, she served on the Investigative Subcommittee in connection with the Newt Gingrich matter.)
Nancy Pelosi is the mother of five children and the grandmother of five grandchildren. Many times, her grandchildren can be seen with her as she performs her Congressional duties. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland as Nancy D'Alesandro, the youngest of six children. Her father
and brother served as the Mayor of Baltimore.
In the 2006 midterm election, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi led Congressional Democrats to their first majority in twelve years.
With a majority of the Members, the Democratic Conference in the United States House will select the next Speaker. On November 16, 2006, the Democrats unanimously selected Nancy Pelosi as its candidate for Speaker. When elected on the first day of the 110th Congress, Nancy Pelosi will become the first woman to serve as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. This is the third highest ranking public official in the United States of America, following only the President and the Vice President.
Speaker Designate Nancy Pelosi has led the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives with focus, determination, and discipline. As the leader who returned the Democratic Party to majority status, she has earned the loyalty and respect of the Members of the Democratic Conference.
There will be many tough issues before the 110th Congress. These will include the war in Iraq, controlling the federal deficit, and addressing important social issues. The Congress will have to address these issues in the context a lame duck Republican President and the 2008
Presidential race with contested nominations in both the Democratic and Republican Parties.
The American people voted for a change in Washington, D.C. Under Nancy Pelosi's Speakership, there will be change.
History will decide her success or failure as Speaker - but make no mistake, her Speakership is historical.