Laura Spanjian for DCCC, 13th District

About Laura

“I love policy, politics and democrats!”

Laura Spanjian grew up in San Mateo, with her parents Phil and Evelyn and her two sisters Jennifer and Danielle. She graduated with honors from Aragon High School, and was elected Class Speaker by her peers. Among her favorite activities, when she wasn’t on the tennis court, she cofounded an award winning literary arts magazine, entitled Paideia.

Spanjian then graduated magna cum laude from UCLA with BAs in English and Communications. After a year traveling abroad, mostly in Eastern Europe, she came back home and graduated from Stanford University with a Masters in Communication Studies.

In 1997, after working for a few years at Stanford on public health policy and communications, she started as legislative aide to San Francisco Supervisor Leslie Katz. After two years at City Hall, she went on to serve as the Government Relations Director for SF Muni, where she managed and secured approvals and community support for over 10 multi-million dollar projects, including the Third Street Light Rail project, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program and numerous financial and development projects.

Laura then worked full-time in the political campaign arena. She worked on Bevan Dufty’s successful election to Supervisor of District 8 in San Francisco. She then served as campaign manager for Susan Leal’s run for Mayor of San Francisco. In addition, she managed Senator Joe Simitian’s successful bid for the California State Senate.

Laura now works as Assistant General Manager for External Affairs for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, a city department that provides pristine Sierra water to 2.4 million people, clean hydro-electric power to several cities and wastewater service to San Francisco.

Laura currently is the Treasurer of the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC), 13th District, elected in 2006 with over 20,000 votes.

In 2007, Laura received the District 8 Woman of the Year Award for her work in Noe Valley and the LGBT and women’s communities.

In addition to the DCCC, Laura is an active Board member of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club; a Board member of Equality California, working for full equality on issues such as ENDA and marriage; and a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, working to elect LGBT candidates in California and across the nation. These organizations work on the issues Laura cares deeply about.

Laura’s other community activities include:

• Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, Board Member and Past Co-Chair
• EQCA, Board Member
• Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Board Member
• Hillary Clinton for President, National and California LGBT Steering Committee Member and Northern California Steering Committee Member
• Noe Valley Democratic Club, Member and Past Treasurer
• Friends of Noe Valley, Member
• Eureka Valley Library Steering Committee, Member
• Community United Against Violence (CUAV), Past Board Member and Chair
• World Center Advisory Board, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Past Member

Laura is energized and passionate about working to build the Democratic Party, to ensure that we continue the fight for civil rights and work to expand our seats in Congress and take back the White House.