Meet Your Leadership

The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause.

Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership.

Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.

It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.

Read the League's positions on local, county, state, and national issues and the action it is taking to support these positions.

David Holtzman earned a law degree through the Program in Public Interest Law and Policy at UCLA, a master's degree in public health from the University of Michigan, a certificate in alcohol and drug abuse studies from UC Berkeley's Extension program, and a bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University. Before moving to LA, he worked in Northern California for state agencies, assessing health risks of air pollution including diesel exhaust. Since moving here, he has practiced consumer rights law, volunteered for several public interest organizations, and worked as an environmental consultant. His passions include improving elections, protecting public health, preserving the environment, promoting civil rights, and talking about transportation policy (he bicycles where he can in LA).

Mira Hashmall is an attorney who practices with a boutique litigation firm in Century City. Mira attended the University of California at Berkeley and obtained her law degree from the University of Southern California. She is a current board member of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Education Fund, and was part of the committee that planned the Celebrating Leadership Awards Dinner in March 2011.

Elizabeth Ralston retired from a career in software development and joined the League in 2003. She has served on the League Board since 2004, and is currently serving as Action Chair. She co-chaired the League's study of retirement benefits for employees of the City of Los Angeles, and is a consultant on state and local finance for the League of Women Voters of California. She is also a second-generation League member. Her mother advocated for constitutional reform in Illinois, and Elizabeth would love to see constitutional reform in California.

Sandra has been an elementary school teacher and school librarian for over 15 years. She joined the League of Women Voters after her exposure to LWV voter information some years ago. The Easy Voter Guide helped make sense of the propositions on the ballot and she joined to show support for the League's work. She served as the San Fernando Valley Unit Chair and helped increase attendance at monthly meetings. In January 2009, she accepted the post of Membership Chair.

Cecilia Schlesinger, retired Los Angeles Times Advertising Manager, joined the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles in 2001. She served previously as Action Chair and as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

María Montero graduated with a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA from CSULA , both degrees in Political Science. She currently is a lecturer at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. In the past she has taught at Santa Monica College, El Camino Community College, and Glendale Community College. She also worked as a bilingual teacher for LAUSD. She has lived and taught in London and New Zealand as well. María has been a member of the League for many years. Recently she was an active participant in the 2011 Education Study, and she currently co-chairs the Program Planning Committee and sits on the LWWLA board as secretary.

Martha Sklar was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to Detroit, MI when she was eight and a half years old. Martha has a BA and MA in Mathematics and Ph.D. in Mathematics Education. She taught mathematics at high school and community college levels. Later she entered administration and was a dean of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles City College until her retirement seven years ago. Upon joining the League she joined both the LWVLA and the LWV Ed Fund Boards. Currently she is Treasurer of LWVLA and continues to serve on both boards as well as the Membership Committee. She has two sons, Benjamin and Jonathan.

Dotte Antelman was a UCLA graduate and elementary school teacher who has had many experiences with persons in many fields, including positions as President, Vice-President and/or chairman of many volunteer organizations. She owned a retail gift business, Dotte Designs, for over 20 years and is now "mostly retired." She describes herself as "almost a native Los Angeles County Californian, married with two daughters, step sons and grandchildren." She joined LWVLA originally in 1968 as Dotte Traiger and was an active member for 20 years. She became active again 3 years ago and has served on the Membership Committee during this last year.

Thea Brodkin is just completing a challenging and inspirational 3-year term as Voter Service Director on the State League Board. She has been an active member of the Los Angeles League since 1974, served on several boards, and was an education consultant as well as Voter Service chair for many years. Before retirement, she worked for the LA County Registrar of Voters. Thea is hoping to provide "institutional memory" as well as long-term experience to the local League Board.

Cathe Caraway-Howard has been a trial attorney in Los Angeles who primarily represents employees in discrimination and unpaid wage cases. Her mother is Bette Caraway, a long-time active member of LWVLA. She joined LWVLA in 2010 both because of her mother's inspiration and because of her commitment to improving access to justice and improving the democratic process. She joined the LWVLA Board of Directors in July 2012.

Fran Lapides joined LWVLA in June of 2006. Since then she has found many ways to be involved. She has been a member of the Speakers Bureau, talking about the pros and cons of the ballot measures for the last 5 years, and has co- chaired the Education Study update project. She has worked on the League's Youth Outreach projects, recruiting and working with interns, and has been a leader for Running & Winning since it began four years ago. Fran recently retired after 40 years of teaching. She says, "My motivation for teaching history and government all these years was my passionate belief that for democracy to work you need an educated electorate. I find that League offers me the opportunity to keep myself educated and to help plan programs to keep others engaged and educated."

Ruth Logan retired from teaching cell and molecular biology at Santa Monica College in 2005 and joined the League of Women Voters immediately after that. Since then she has served in her unit, on several committees, and especially in helping to run elections. She has been a Board member since July, 2012.

Amelia MacRae moved to L.A. in mid-2011 and currently works in the development department at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She joined the League specifically to focus on local election reform issues but is excited to be expanding her involvement in other areas as well. Amelia grew up in Portland, OR. In 2005 she earned her BA in Media and Cultural Studies at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. She received a Master of Public Administration degree in 2011 from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs where she majored in Public and Nonprofit Management. A life-long activist and engaged citizen, Amelia is passionate about equal rights, environmental protection, health care, and the power of local governments to improve communities.

Adriana serves on the program committee of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters as well as running several projects: Running and Winning, YEI, and the Youth Engagement Initiative. She currently serves as the Unit Chairperson for the Crenshaw. Adriana is a retired school administrator in the Inglewood and Los Angeles districts. She has served as President of the National Association of University Women, Los Angeles Branch, and currently serves as the Scholarship Chair. Other organizations include Jack n Jill of America and St. Johns' Episcopal church. She attended UCLA and Cal State Los Angeles where she received a BA in Fine Arts-Spanish). She has a Masters Degree in Educational Studies from Pepperdine University. Adriana is a native of the Republic of Panama.

Cynde Willis is an Occupational Therapist. She is currently homeschooling both of her children through middle school. Her Mother, Bette Caraway, has been a speaker for the League of Women Voters for as long as she can remember. Cynde joined the League because she believes that it is important for people to be educated voters.