The following is a joint press release issued by the League of Women Voters of Mendocino County, Mendocino Women’s Political Coalition, Soroptimists, and Cloud Forest Institute:
Saturday, August 21st at the Kelley House in Mendocino State Treasurer Fiona Ma will give the keynote speech at a celebration of 101 years since women gained the right to vote. The event starts at 1 pm with a parade followed by the program. State Treasurer Ma has previously visited Mendocino County and participated in this 19th Amendment passage celebration, which happens every five years.
Fiona Ma is California’s 34th State Treasurer. She was elected on November 6, 2018, with more votes (7,825,587) than any other candidate for treasurer in the state’s history. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position.
The State Treasurer’s Office was created in the California Constitution in 1849. It provides financing for schools, roads, housing, recycling and waste management, hospitals, public facilities, and other crucial infrastructure projects that better the lives of residents. California is the world’s fifth-largest economy and Treasurer Ma is the state’s primary banker. Her office processes more than $2 trillion in transactions, within a typical year. She provides transparency and oversight for the government’s investment portfolio and accounts, as well as for the state’s surplus funds. Treasurer Ma oversees an investment portfolio of about $193.3 billion, $37.1 billion of which are local government funds. She serves as agent of sale for all State bonds and is trustee on outstanding debt of $93 billion.
The celebration of women gaining the right to vote is free and all are invited to participate in the parade and enjoy the program, which will include historical monologues, multicultural perspectives on political activity, music and poetry. Bring a chair.
