Jackie Speier is the representative for California’s 14th Congressional District. 

I really played by a set of rules that you served on the Board of Supervisors and then you ran for the Legislature and then you ran for Congress. I really came to Congress too late in my political career. I was 57 years old when I got elected to Congress. It’s based on seniority, so it takes forever to get to a position of authority, and everything is run through the chairs of committees. I had the luxury in the State Legislature where I served for 18 years and had 300 bills become law. It’s a record that will probably never be broken. [But] I think that waiting my turn was something I wouldn’t recommend other people do.

Notes and references from this episode: 

Congresswoman Jackie Speier - CA-14 - home page 

“Rep. Jackie Speier will retire after her term ends,” by A Martinez, NPR, 

Congressman Leo Ryan biography - American Experience, PBS

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple - documentary by Stanley Nelson

“Bob Swanson: The Toughest CEO in Silicon Valley,” by Robert Ristelheuber, EDN 

“Gordon Moore Is the Nerdy Moses of Silicon Valley,” by J.P. O’Malley, The Daily Beast 

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