Topic: The Emotional Toll of Politics & Elections on Individuals and Communities

Guest: Abbe Land, West Hollywood City Councilmember

In March 2003, Councilmember Abbe Land was overwhelmingly re-elected to the West Hollywood City Council after deciding not to seek re-election in 1997 following over ten years of service as a Councilmember and Mayor. As someone who has been involved in the City of West Hollywood since it was founded in 1984, Councilmember Land's main concerns are tenants' rights, the creation and maintenance of affordable housing, economic development, social services and environmental issues. She is a strong advocate for women's issues and issues related to civil liberties.

In addition to her service as an elected official, Abbe Land currently serves as the Co-Chief Executive Officer for The Los Angeles Free Clinic, the oldest continuously operating free clinic in the nation. The Los Angeles Free Clinic provides free medical and dental care, crisis counseling, HIV testing and counseling, health education, prenatal care and a wellness/prevention program, for thousands of women, men and children each year.

Councilmember Land currently serves on the advisory board of Women Against Gun Violence and is a member of the board of directors of the California Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County. In January of 2005 she was appointed to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services' Women's Health Policy Council. Additionally, in February of 2005 the Los Angeles County Commission for Women selected Abbe Land as one of the recipients of the 2005 Women of the Year award in recognition of her work on behalf of women to bring about social and economic change and for serving as a role model for women.

During her previous tenure on the West Hollywood City Council, Councilmember Land served on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities & the California League of Cities, the Southern California Association of Governments, the California Elected Women's Association for Education and Research (CEWAER) and is a former President for Women in Municipal Government (WIMG).

Prior to her work for The Los Angeles Free Clinic, she was the Director of Development for the Feminist Majority Foundation. Ms. Land was honored with the 1998 Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction and the 1999 Christopher Street West George Moscone award.

Websites: www.weho.org; www.lafreeclinic.org