Toni Atkins Named Speaker of the Assembly

Atkins will replace outgoing Speaker John A. Pérez

San Diego Assemblymember Toni Atkins was selected as Speaker of the Assembly Wednesday, making her the first openly gay woman to hold the job. 

“I am humbled, grateful, and ready to get to work,” Atkins said in a written release. “From the drought we are experiencing to ensuring a healthy business climate and a world class educational system, California is facing important issues in the near future.

Akins, 51, served on the San Diego City Council for eight years and as Deputy Mayor of the City of San Diego before moving to the state legislature to serve as representative of the 58th District.

She will succeed Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez of Los Angeles who reaches his term limit in 2014.

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