Born in Seattle, educated in Los Angeles, and with a work history that spans the continent, Assemblywoman Patty Berg brings a broad wealth of experience to her work in the state Capitol.

A Humboldt County resident for three decades, Berg has established herself not only as one of the Legislature’s most dependably progressive members, but as one of the few members whose personal integrity has earned her respect and cooperation on both sides of the political aisle.

Patty Berg earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Work from California State University at Los Angeles in 1967. Adventurous from an early age, she at various times worked in California vineyards, in a New York ad agency, and as a medical and psychiatric social worker.

By the early 1980s, her leadership potential was taking shape. She co-found CHOICES, Humboldt County's first pro-choice Political Action Committee, and developed California's first K-12 comprehensive family life education curriculum for public schools which received national distribution. She also taught at Humboldt State University in the Psychology and Sociology Departments.

The primary focus of her public service crystalized when she became the founding Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging serving Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. During her 19 years there, Patty Berg grew the nascent agency from a staff of 4 and with a budget of $300,000 to fully functional service agency with 25 employees and a multi-million dollar budget. She became a leading advocate for policy change in Sacramento and our nation’s Capitol by writing legislation and testifying before Congress. Patty also received the Administration on Aging award for her agency's work in developing the most comprehensive system of services for older adults in California. The Administration on Aging is the federal department that oversees the Older Americans Act programs and funding. She also founded the Senior Citizens Foundation in 1987.

Assembly leaders have recognized her expertise, and Patty Berg has become the Legislature’s key thinker on aging issues. For the past six years, she has chaired the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. She released the nation’s first policy agenda to help California prepare for the dramatic changes that will come as the Baby Boom generation moves into old age. In her third term, Patty Berg authored legislation to allow more seniors to stay safely in their own homes by changing our state policies from a sole emphasis on nursing home care.

For the past year, Berg has chaired the Legislative Women’s Caucus. As chair, she highlighted the need for a working families agenda and flexible workplace policies for families so they can care for their loved ones.

Patty Berg is chair of the Assembly budget committee that oversees health and human services spending. She serves on the Assembly Health Committee, the Assembly Committee on Insurance and the State Coastal Conservancy.

The 1st Assembly District includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Trinity Counties as well as parts of Sonoma County.

Last Updated on January 18, 2008