Alioto-Pier Charter Amendment
would permit moms-to-be supervisors
to vote by teleconference

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

March 22, 2006

By Pat Murphy

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier has introduced legislation to allow for an elected official or commissioner who is medically unable to attend meetings due to complications with pregnancy or childbirth.

"Women shouldn't have to choose between the health of their baby and doing their job," said Alioto-Pier at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.

Under current law, a Supervisor must be physically present to cast a vote.

This Charter Amendment allows a Supervisor to participate in board and committee meetings by teleconference if she is physically unable, as certified by a Doctor, to attend the meeting due to complications with pregnancy or childbirth. "Our current laws make it impossible for young women of childbearing age, to hold elective office, and properly fulfill the duties for which she was entrusted" said Alioto-Pier.

"Holding elected office has always been an acceptable career path for young men. It needs to be a career path for young women as well. And for women to achieve that goal, they must be able to serve while pregnant," said Alioto-Pier.

"Current state and city law preclude that from taking place."

Currently women only make up 16% of the United States House of Representatives and 14% of the United States Senate. In California, women make of 30% of the state legislature. Here in San Francisco, there are only three female members of the Board of Supervisors.

"If we want women to break the glass ceiling, we need to be able to do our jobs while pregnant," said Alioto-Pier. The proposal is for the November 2006 ballot and is co-sponsored by the other female members of the Board of Supervisors, Sophie Maxwell and Fiona Ma.

For full text of Charter Amendment, click here.

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