Dawn Addis

Dawn Addis was born in San Francisco, California. Addis earned a bachelor's degree in art education and Spanish and a master's degree in special education from San Francisco State University. Her career experience includes working as an educator. Addis has been affiliated with the San Luis Coastal Teachers Association, the Student California Teachers Association, the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters, Rotary International, and the Morro Bay Open Space Alliance.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

It has been my honor to serve in the California State Assembly since 2022. In this role, I’ve listened to the residents of our district and worked hard to deliver results for our Central Coast communities.

My values come from my experiences as a classroom teacher, mom, community leader, and former City Councilmember.

As your Assemblymember, I’ve worked hard to secure our districts fair share of state funding, support our public schools, improve healthcare access, expand childcare, stand up for sexual assault survivors, protect our coast and climate, and lower barriers to home ownership. I’ve authored important legislation to make utilities more affordable, provide housing for homeless students, and improve bilingual education. I also successfully defeated insurance premium increases for low-income seniors and rejected cuts to our California State University and University of California campuses.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

There are many critical issues facing the Central Coast, and I am open to a range of new approaches to tackle these challenges. Below are three I want to share, however this is not an exhaustive list.

The rising cost of living has become a crisis for Central Coast families. I am committed to doing everything I can to mitigate the problems high prices are causing for our community. I have authored new laws aimed at reducing costs and adding to the supply of student and senior housing. I have also authored a bill to create transparency when gas and electric utilities try to raise rates. This legislation (AB 2847) was signed into law and prevents undue rate increases for Central Coast consumers.As a mom and public school teacher for over 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how access to quality education shapes opportunity. That’s why I’ve authored and helped see through the signing of key education bills, including a bill that strengthens support for special education teachers by establishing fair teacher-to-student ratios. Investing in lifelong learning means strengthening our schools, supporting educators, and ensuring students of all abilities have the resources they need to succeed.We are not doing enough to build the kind of housing that will reduce homelessness. I authored and passed legislation specifically aimed at reducing senior and student homelessness, but there is certainly more to do. Part of the challenge is that California’s large urban centers are not adding enough housing to accommodate the population, but across our state young families are struggling to afford to buy a starter home in the communities they grew up in. I support efforts to make it easier to build housing that fits the character of our communities, and that creates new home-buyer down payment assistance. I am going to continue to support efforts to cut red tape and reduce the cost of housing.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As Chair of the Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health, I strongly believe in fiscal responsibility and accountability. I am focused on protecting important healthcare gains we have made for the Central Coast’s children and families. We must also bring our spending in line with our revenues. Everything needs to be closely considered, including new legislation that may have a cost, programs that haven’t been checked recently for efficiency and effectiveness, and non-essential spending that may need to be delayed. California’s economy is strong and well-positioned for continued growth, but federal rollbacks pose real challenges. I’m working to fight against federal overreach while keeping our budget balanced and investing where it matters most.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I'm honored to have strong support from elected leaders, organizations and community members. See my list of endorsements: https://dawnaddis.org/endorsements/

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

It has been my honor to represent the Central Coast in the California State Assembly since 2022. As your representative I’ve worked hard to listen to local residents, advance meaningful legislation, and deliver important funding to our region of the Central Coast.

As your Assemblymember, I’m fighting to fully fund public schools, combat the climate crisis, reduce homelessness, ensure safe neighborhoods, and expand healthcare access. I serve as the State Assembly appointee to the California Ocean Protection Council and am the Chair of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus. I’ve authored important legislation to expand paid parental leave, improve housing for students and seniors, and help survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Prior to my election to the legislature, I worked as a classroom teacher and teacher-leader. I also served on a local City Council and founded a 10,000 person women’s march. My husband, Marcus, and I are the proud parents of two children and two rescue pets.

My campaign is endorsed by groups who represent Central Coast firefighters, paramedics, nurses, law enforcement personnel, teachers, and grocery store workers.

I would be honored to earn your vote for State Assembly. If you have questions or thoughts about my campaign, please do not hesitate to call me at (805) 749-3751 or email me at Dawn@DawnAddis.org.

Dawn Addis

www.DawnAddis.org

Se habla español.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The rising cost of living is straining family budgets, whether it is housing costs and rent, groceries and transportation, or health care and higher education. In the State Assembly, I’m working to curb these rising costs and relieve pressure on family budgets. As a teacher and a parent of college-aged children, I know that the costs of higher education can be very high. Many schools don’t have enough student housing, and students are forced to rent apartments at market rates, further reducing the supply of affordable apartments. That’s why I authored AB 358, which the Governor has since signed into law, that cuts red tape and makes it easier for California Community Colleges to quickly build the affordable student housing we need.We need housing near economic centers, affordable housing, and to do more with our existing housing footprints. California’s over-60 population is growing faster than any other age group, and some seniors face challenges living alone - creating demand for assisted living options.. I authored AB 839 to create more supportive housing for seniors by extending low-cost financing options to residential care facilities. Additionally, We also need to increase opportunities for homeownership, especially for young people. I co-authored AB 519, to create the Affordable Housing Finance Working Group. I also helped secure funding in 2023 for cities to combat homelessness and give local entities the tools they need to create affordable housing (ACA 1).Working families are struggling. Lack of childcare across the Central Coast, coupled with high costs of housing, utilities, and other expenses is sinking working people and those on fixed incomes. I am working to expand quality, affordable childcare and bring the cost of living down for the millions of hard-working families across California that are trying to make ends meet. I am championing legislation to lower utility costs and create more transparency for ratepayers. Last session I fought to expand paid family leave, raise the minimum wage for health-care and fast-food workers, and increase senior and student housing. The Central Coast is expensive enough and I am committed to helping our residents thrive, not just survive, here.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I strongly believe in fiscal responsibility and accountability. We must bring our spending in line with our revenues. Everything needs to be closely considered - this includes new legislation that may have a cost, programs that haven’t been checked recently for efficiency and effectiveness, non-essential spending that may need to be delayed. I’ve always looked at the budget as representing our values, so I am focused on protecting important gains we have made for the Central Coast’s children and families. California’s economy is dynamic, strong, and well-positioned to grow in the future. I’ll be working to keep our budget balanced while making the investments we need.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

This is not the first, however I co-founded the Women’s March in San Luis Obispo (WMSLO), which drew a crowd of around 10,000 people in 2017. This led me to get more engaged in local and now State representation.

What committees interest you?

I am a member of the following Standing Committees

Education

Governmental Organization

Military and Veterans Affairs

Rules (First Extraordinary)

Water, Parks, and Wildlife

I Chair the following Select Committees

Select Committee on Offshore Wind Energy in California

Select Committee on Serving Students with Disabilities

I am a Member of the the following Select Committees

Select Committee on Place Based Systems of Coordinated Care for Children and Families

Select Committee on Biodiversity

Select Committee on Cybersecurity

Select Committee on Master Plan for Higher Education in California

Select Committee on Mental Health Accessibility within Non-English Speaking Communities

Select Committee on Reproductive Health

Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy

Select Committee on State Parks

Select Committee on Wildfire Prevention

Select Committee on Wine

I am Vice Chair of the following Joint Committee

Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Dawn Addis did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Morro Bay City Council Member elected in 2018. On Council I use my platform to

advocate for women's and children's needs including healthy communities, clean secure water, housing, equal representation, and local work.

I ran for office after founding and leading Women's March San Luis Obispo. Taking place one day after the 2017 inauguration, the Women's March in San Luis Obispo rallied the largest demonstration in SLO County history (10,000 people), signaling a local awakening to the many threats to women's rights, human rights, and environmental justice. As a result of this work, I was named 2017 24th Congressional District Woman of the Year by Congressman Carbajal. I was invited to the State of the Union address in 2018, by the Congressman, due to my advocacy on immigration issues.

I am a bilingual public educator and taught special education before transitioning into program development. My current work focuses on creating equitable school experiences, opening a new bilingual school, and providing support for immigrant students and LGBTQ students and staff.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Protect women's health and safety. Address climate crisis by expanding efforts to reduce pollution and increase clean renewable energy sources Reduce cost of living and increase jobs and small business growth.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Creating more affordable housing through smart growth;

Mitigating and working to reverse the negative impacts of human action on the climate crisis;

Equitable access to health care for all people in California

Protecting and enhancing the human rights of women and all underrepresented groups.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity and courage

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My perspective as a woman, educator, activist, wife, and mother inform my actions as a leader. I seek to cultivate empathy, compassion, integrity, consistency, logic, and collaborative practices as a person and as a leader. These are but a few of the qualities I embody and have already served me well as an elected officeholder.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Consider all sides of debate, be accessible and responsive to constituents, and accurately represent the concerns of your constituents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Protect the coast, increase gender equality, improve access to quality public education.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it's beneficial for state legislators to have leadership and service experience. I do not believe it is necessary for them to have had a long tenure in elected office, though. Community leaders like myself are in tune with the needs of the people they are meant to serve and are less likely to be jaded or reliant on corporate interests for campaign support.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Responding to climate change and mitigating its impact on Californians; universal access to quality healthcare; controlling the cost of living and maintaining livable wages.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

I believe the framers of our federal and state constitutions intended leadership to be shared. I appreciate the distribution of responsibility and power in our state government and the checks and balances provided by this structure and that while independent of one another, branches must work together to develop the most effective policy. In my leadership roles, I have always relied on collaboration and cooperation in order to bring all voices to the table. As a legislator, I would seek input and to work with the governor to create the best possible scenario for my constituents and California as a whole.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. Each legislator is tasked with representing their districts. Naturally perspectives differ, but you can't find common ground without building relationships with colleagues.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education, Health, Natural Resources, Budget

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

No.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Right now I am focused on the community I serve. One reason I entered this race late in the cycle is because I am a sitting city council member and was not planning to run for another office until I reflected on the need for more women in the legislature and realized there was no one running against an incumbent who has failed to bring significant resources to our district. I am running out of a desire to serve my community, not in an effort to climb a political ladder.