The 9th District is the focal point of the East Bay Region. This mostly urban district includes important harbors, airports, universities, and businesses.
The 7th District includes a predominantly suburban portion of the East Bay. It is located entirely in and covers most of Contra Costa County. This includes all of the central and eastern portions of the county (everything east of Alameda County), and the western portion of the county on San Pablo Bay.
Assemblymember Tom Torlakson represents California's 11th Assembly District, which includes the northern half of Contra Costa County.
In November 2008, Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) was elected to represent the Bay Area’s 14th Assembly District. The district includes Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo and parts of Oakland and El Sobrante.
Joan Buchanan honed her financial and analytical skills at Delta Dental becoming one of the fastest rising women in the company and Director of Commercial Operations before the age of 30.