Teacher and state legislator elected to five terms in US Congress beginning in 2001, succeeding Julian C. Dixon. Progressive Democrat; pro-abortion rights, pro-gay rights, anti-gun rights. Supported 2008 Wall Street bailout, 2009 economic stimulus, 2010 health care reform; opposed 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, 2002 Iraq War resolution, 2005 Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), 2006 Secure Fence Act. Did not seek a sixth term, and succeeded in Congress by Karen Bass in 2011. Served as US Ambassador to Micronesia during the Bill Clinton administration.
[1] Originally (and possibly still) a Roman Catholic.Father: William (LAPD officer)
Mother: Dorothy (postal worker, div. 1940)
University: Dorsey High School, Los Angeles, CA (1950)
University: AA, Los Angeles City College (1954)
University: BA Education, UCLA (1956)
Teacher: Los Angeles Unified School District (1956-60)
Teacher: American schools in France & Japan (1960-63)
Teacher: Los Angeles Unified School District (1963-68)
University: MA Psychology, California State University at Los Angeles (1967)
Teacher: Assoc. Prof, California State University Los Angeles (1969-70)
Administrator: School Psychologist/Health Worker, L.A. Unified School District (1969-75)
Administrator: Board of Education, Los Angeles Unified School District (1975-78)
University: PhD Educational Administration, Claremont Graduate University (1987)
US Congressman, California 33rd (2003-11)
US Congressman, California 32nd (2001-03)
US Ambassador to Micronesia (1999-2000)
California State Senate (1978-98)
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Council of American Ambassadors
Democratic National Committee
EMILY's List
Hillary Clinton for President
NAACP
National Student Leadership Conference Honorary Board of Advisors
Progressive Democrats of America Advisory Board
Official Website:
http://www.house.gov/watson/
AKA Diane Edith Watson