Julie's Bio Page

What's NEW?

January 7, 2009

Julie is pleased to announce the GRAND OPENING of her Campaign Headquarters and extends her personal invitation to all. Festivities are set for January 17, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Julie's Campaign HQ is located at 21805 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson Ca. 90745 (map)

ENDORSEMENTS

State Controller       John Chiang
State Senators        Jenny Oropeza
                             Robert Polanco (ret.)
                             Betty Karnette (ret.)
Assemblywoman     Bonnie Lowenthal
Carson Mayor         Jim Dear
Carson Councilman Harold Williams
West Basin Water
Board Directors     Gloria Gray
                             Don Dear
                             Ron Smith
LAUSD
Board Member      Mike Lansing (ret.)
Long Beach
Community College
Board Member      Mark Bowen

             I.B.E.W., Local 11

       Los Angeles/Orange County
Building Trades & Contractors Council

   Gardena Valley Democratic Club

      Additional endorsements pending

Please contact us if you would like to:
                Volunteer
                 Need a campaign sign
                 Make a donation
                 Submit a suggestion
                 Help out in the campaign office

310.502.6457

JULIE RUIZ-RABER
BIOGRAPHY

Julie, the ninth child in a family of 15, was born in 
Clovis, New Mexico to parents Jose Perez Ruiz 
and Albina Sena.  Julie and her husband, Brian, 
moved to Carson with her family in 1972 because 
they wanted their children to be raised in an 
ethnically diverse community.

Her first civic involvement came at the young age 
of 19 when Julie became the founding president 
of the Edwards Air Force Base Airman's Wives Club.  
She is the past president of the Carson Women's 
Club (the city's official hostesses) and played a major
 role in the club's successful fundraising events for 
Carson's youth and in increasing the club's 
membership to over 200 during her tenure. She also 
served four terms as president of the Friends of the 
Carson Library. Julie was a P.T.A. president, taught 
Spanish speaking children to read English.

Outside her political career and in between volunteer 
work in the community, Julie has been teaching an 
Extension Course at Los Angeles Harbor College for 
over 34 years.

Julie served as First Vice President of the National 
League of Cities Hispanic Elected Local Officials 
(HELO) and was also a member of the National 
Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) 
Board of Directors.  She also served as chair of the 
Carson's Public Relations Commission for 2002-2003 
and represented the City of Carson on several 
local and state committees including the So. 
California Association of Governments (SCAG).

In March 2002, Assembly member Jenny Oropeza
selected Julie Ruiz Raber as California's 55th 
Assembly District "Woman of the Year" and was
 presented with a special award from Assembly 
Speaker Herb Wesson during a special session 
in the State Capitol in Sacramento. In the same year, 
she was honored by the City of Carson for her 
leadership in the Cinco de Mayo Planning and Unity 
Day Latino subcommittee.  She was recognized as 
a "Hero of the Community" and as "Democrat of the
 Year" for California's 55th Assembly District.

Even prior to being an elected official, Julie Ruiz 
Raber is a well known figure in the Carson community 
because of her involvement and leading roles in 
various civic organizations and community programs. 
Julie strives to be a role model for women in the 
community.

Julie Ruiz-Raber was elected into office in March 
2003. As a councilmember, her first order of business 
was to establish Cesar Chavez Day, which is held 
every year in the month of March.

Julie retired in February 2004 as the administrative 
assistant to the Vice President and Plant Manager 
of Farmer Brothers Coffee in Torrance California 
where she was employed since 1980.

Julie’s more recent accolades include the 2005 
NAACP Legislative Award, the 2005 Cesar Chavez 
Community Service Award, and the High Steps 
Achiever's Community Partner Award, both given 
by the California State University Dominguez
Hills (CSUDH). She was also named by the Carson
Coordinating Council as one of the "Six Magnificent 
Women for 2006."

Most recently, she was named as Honoree for the 
Partner in Learning Award and elected to the 
California Conservation Corps Board of Directors 
working with "at risk" youth and is currently a
Eucharistic Minister at St Philomena Church 
in Carson.

Julie and Brian have been married for 49 years; 
they have raised four sons and have 10 grandchildren 
which speak to their commitment and ability to 
embrace challenges.