Catharine Baker works hard at many things: raising twins, improving local schools, helping small businesses succeed, volunteering in the community, and developing public policy.  And now she's working to represent State Assembly District 16 in the San Ramon Valley.

Catharine has a depth of public policy experience in many key areas affecting Assembly District 16 and the State.  She served as Senior Legislative Assistant to California Congressman Sonny Bono, working in transportation infrastructure, natural resources and environmental policy, health care, and energy, among other issues. 

She served as volunteer Campaign Counsel to David Harmer for Congress in 2010, and Bay Area Regional Chair for the Romney campaign in 2012, and she has been a tireless advocate for voter rights and ballot integrity reforms in California.

Catharine is an attorney at Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel law firm in Pleasanton, where she helps local small businesses and non-profit organizations get started and succeed.

She has received awards for her pro bono work as an attorney, including the prestigious Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services from the California State Bar Association for her commitment to providing volunteer legal representation to low-income individuals and families.

Catharine also serves the community as a volunteer leader.  She is a board member of the Diablo Regional Arts Association in Walnut Creek, and has been involved in raising funds for the DRAA's arts and educational programs for over ten years.

As the mother of twins attending public school in Dublin, Catharine Baker is an active parent leader.  She is Vice President of the School Site Council, has served on the school's Safety Committee for five years, and has worked cooperatively with teachers, parents, and administration to implement school improvement programs.  

Catharine is also a former Preschool Commission Member with the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church Preschool, which runs a preschool serving families from throughout the San Ramon Valley.

Catharine earned her B.A. in Political Science with Honors from the University of Chicago, and her J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). She clerked for the Honorable Alicemarie H. Stotler, a federal judge.

Catharine is married to her college sweetheart, Dan.  They have two children and live in Dublin.

Assembly District 16 runs down the San Ramon Valley from Walnut Creek to Livermore.  It's the area that the last Republican Assembly Member in the Bay Area, Guy Houston, represented.  Its 32.8% Republican registration is the highest in the Bay Area.  It's currently represented by Democrat Joan Buchanan, who is termed out.  See the map.

You can learn more about Catharine Baker's campaign next week when she posts her website at bakerforassembly.com.

Several Bay Area county Republican Parties are arranging activities in support of Andy Vidak's special election race.  Here are the ones that we are aware of by our deadline.  We will update this information on the Vidak for Senate Page on our website.

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"Victory for Vidak Bus" for Walkers
Friday-Saturday, July 12-13
From San Jose to Fresno

Join volunteers from the Santa Clara and San Mateo County Republican Parties and all over to help Andy Vidak win!  Join Former Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado & Senate Candidate Andy Vidak for Friday night dinner. Overnight and walk Fresno for Andy Vidak on Saturday. Return home Saturday evening. 

Travel, hotels and meals all provided.  The bus will pick up volunteers in San Jose Friday afternoon and return Saturday evening.  To volunteer, contact Brandon at Brandon@capitolcpr.com or 831-206-6460 or Izaak at director@svgop.com.  Find out more ...

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Luxury Bus to Precinct Walk for Andy Vidak
Saturday, July 20, 2013
From Marin to Fresno

Join 50 friends on an expense paid luxury bus trip to Fresno to walk precincts for Andy Vidak.  The Marin County Republican Party, in cooperation with the Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Mateo Parties, is arranging a luxury bus to take walkers to Fresno, walk, and return that night.

It will be important work and a lot of fun! For details, contact the Marin GOP at info@maringop.org or 415-446-4111.
 

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Precinct Walk in Fresno
Saturday-Sunday, July 13-14 and July 20-21
Fresno

Assemblyman Travis Allen invites you to walk for Andy Vidak in Fresno the weekends of July 13-14 and July 20-21.  Hotels rooms are being provided; carpool travel will be arranged.

They had such a blast last trip they're doing a couple more!  The goal is to QUADRUPLE the group from last time, so they hope you can join them AND bring your friends. They will once again be providing accommodations and transportation, as well as supporting the evening festivities!
 
Come for another fun and productive weekend that will help get another Republican to Sacramento!  Email Stephanie Freedman at stephanie@travisallen2012.com (or call 408-348-0687) with your confirmation as well as any additional names, and they will book all your accommodations.  Let's go get 'em!

 

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SVGOP Supports the Final Push
Saturday-Tuesday, July 20-23
Fresno
         

The Santa Clara County Republican Party will send volunteers to Fresno for the final push.  Volunteers will be walking neighborhoods and connecting with voters.

Meet Up: 9:00-10:00am at Vidak for Senate Campaign Office, 2767 West Shaw Avenue, Suite 126 Fresno, CA

SVGOP will provide lodging and cover fuel expenses for volunteers; however, space is limited.  If you would like to volunteer, contact ED Izaak Pichardo ASAP at director@svgop.com. Also, please let Izaak know if you would be willing to carpool.

  

  

  

The San Francisco Republican Party will send volunteers by carpool to help Andy Vidak.  If you want to help, contact Matt at mshupe@sfgop.org. or 415-735-8491.

  

  

 Check the BayAreaGOP Vidak for Senate Page on our website for updates.

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Monterey GOP Phonebank for Andy Vidak
Monday-Tuesday, July 22-23, 2013 / 1:30 pm
Republican HQ, 1098 Del Monte Blvd C, Monterey

Join the Monterey County Republican Party to make Get Out The Vote calls for State Senate candidate Andy Vidak. Calling will be on Election Day and the day before, Monday-Tuesday, July 22-23, from 1:30 to 7:30 pm. Contact landon@montereyrepublicans.org or 831-324-0617 to sign up.
          

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Upcoming Phoning Opportunities
 

Several counties are arranging phone banks and/or calling from home.  Contact any of the following to volunteer:
 
Alameda
Contact info@alamedagop.org.

Contra Costa
Contact (925) 930-9551. 
Their new HQ is at 1475 No. Broadway, Suite 282, Walnut Creek!

Contact Ellen at info@smgop.org or (650)931-4596.

 

Contact Matt at mshupe@sfgop.org or 415-735-8491.

Santa Clara
Contact director@svgop.com or 408-246-6600.
 

  

The Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley Presents Debbie Bacigalupi
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 / 6:15 pm
IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Road, Mountain View

The Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley invites you to come to hear their special guest Debbie Bacigalupi speaking on "The 21st Century High-Speed Agenda to One", exposing the private property breach of One Bay Area Plan, Grand Blvd. Initiative, Regionalism, Transit Villages and more.  Find out more ...

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San Francisco Republican Party Presents Professor John Yoo
Wednesday, July 10, 2013 / 6:30 pm
Villa Taverna, 27 Hotaling Place, San Francisco

Join the San Francisco Republican Party for a conversation with Berkeley Law professor John Yoo and Justice Daniel Kolkey (ret.).  John Yoo is an author of several books including The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs after 9/11. Daniel M. Kolkey is a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Previously, he served as an Associate Justice on the California Court of Appeal in Sacramento for five years.

They will discuss the recent revelations of the NSA's PRISM program, the status of whistle-blower Edward Snowden, outcomes of recent Supreme Court decisions, and other current topics.  Find out more ...

  

At their monthly luncheon the Monterey Peninsula Republican Women Federated host speaker Mark Carbonaro, Program Director at KION 1460 AM Radio. Mark will be speaking on "The Role of Radio Talk Shows: Local News and Conversation". Social time is at 11:30, and the luncheon starts at noon. Find out more ...
 

  

  

SPARC Presents Bay Area Vice Chair Kevin Krick
Wednesday, July 17, 2013 / 6:00 pm
Fremont Hills Country Club, 12889 Viscaino Place, Los Altos Hills

  

Join the South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition (SPARC) for an evening of food, wine, as well as stimulating discussions on economic and government policies. Their speaker will be Kevin Krick, Bay Area CRP Vice Chairman who will lead an insightful discussion on what Republicans in the Bay Area can do to revive the Party.  Find out more ...

  

  

  

Silicon Valley Taxpayers Present David Wolfe
Thursday, July 18, 2013 / 6:15 pm
Harry's Hofbrau, 390 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose

  

The Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association will host their Third Thursday Taxpayers Toolkit Meeting with special guest David Wolfe, Legislative Director at Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. All are welcome! Please come early to dine at Harry's Hofbrau and mingle with fellow members and friends. Find out more ...

  

  

Bay Area Patriots are organizing supporters to attend the final ABAG/MTC meeting on Plan Bay Area. The groups who have been working tirelessly on this are making inroads but need your presence! Find out more ...