Dede Alpert

Deirdre "Dede" W. Alpert (born October 6, 1945) is an American former state senator, assembly person and school board member in San Diego, California. A Democrat, she served in the California State Assembly as a member for the 75th district from 1990 to 1992 and from the 78th district from 1992 to 1996. She was a member of the California State Senate for the 39th district from 1996 to 2004.

Early life and education Alpert was born on October 6, 1945, in New York City. Her family moved to California in 1962 and she studied at Pomona College, receiving a degree in government. She married Michael Alpert, an attorney, in Los Angeles and the couple moved back to San Diego, where they had three daughters: Alison, Kristin, and Lehn. She ran a grassroots campaign, with the support of local newspapers. She served in the Assembly until 1996 and was a member for the California State Senate from 1996 to 2004, representing the 39th district in San Diego County. She retired from the Senate in 2004 due to term limits.

Throughout her time in the legislature, Alpert focused on education, the environment, women's and children's issues and local businesses. She passed a number of bills reforming domestic violence laws to better support victims.

Honors Alpert received the Association of California School Administrators' "Friend of Education Award" in 1998. She was named "Senator of the Year" by the California Journal in 2004 and received the Outstanding Legislator Award from the California County Boards of Education the same year. San Diego State University renamed their City Heights Center the Dede Alpert Center for Community Engagement in 2004. She was inducted into the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in March 2018 for her past Senate leadership. Her papers are held by the California State Archives.