As state assemblywoman, San Diego native Christine Kehoe has been involved in everything from the California Coastal Commission and the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee to the legislator’s official Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender caucus and the National Organization for Women.

Representing the 76th District as the second woman ever elected speaker pro tempore of the Assembly, Kehoe now has her sights set on the state Senate 39th district seat. Having also served seven years as city councilmember, she’s facing off against Larry Stirling, a retired judge who also served in the Assembly and on the San Diego City Council.

During her stint in the state assembly, she’s fought for local improvements, winning over a million dollars each for improvements to Balboa Park and to improve the water quality of the San Diego River.

Showing her relentless support for civil rights, education and the need for improved safety and cleanliness in San Diego neighborhoods, Kehoe has held hearings on the city’s Equal Opportunity Ordinance, funded and expanded the city’s “6 to 6 Extended Day School Program,” and been picked to chair the San Diego Regional Partnership for Home Ownership.

Kehoe’s experience as speaker pro tempore, who is responsible for managing the daily operation of the state Assembly, would also serve her well if elected to the state senate.

Last spring, Kehoe made known her position on higher education in the UC system — and its economic side effects — when she participated in a UCSD town hall meeting, contesting the governor’s proposed budget due to the hindrance it would cause to the commitments and promises of the Master Plan. With a strong endorsement from current State Senator Dede Alpert, who reiterated Kehoe’s sentiments at that same meeting, it looks like Kehoe will continue to make great strides toward improving the quality of higher education at an affordable price.

Although Stirling has discredited Kehoe for being on the board that was partially responsible for San Diego’s credit-rating problems and for being listed as the 12th most likely to not vote in the Assembly (out of 80), the Republican’s criticism can only carry so much weight against a candidate with this kind of report card.