Participatory Democracy - Empowering Communities
Her strong advocacy for assuring all communities have equal access to the benefits and privileges associated with American citizenry (e.g. access to the political arena and its processes) has led her to work on issues and projects associated with strengthening democracy and maintaining a "balance of power" within political structures.
She is a past Board of Director with the League of Women Voters of Oakland. In 2000, Ms. Gee chaired the Charter Amendment Committee for the League of Women Voters to require that vacancies on the Council be filled via Special Elections instead of appointments. This was designed specifically so "voters,; not politicians, could decide who represented them. She authored both the amendment and the supporting documentation, "Concerns and Benefits Associated with Special Elections", submitted by the League of Women Voters to Oakland's City Council articulating the basis for the change. This brought forth Measure I, which was overwhelming passed by the voters in Oakland. She has been and remains a strong supporter for transparency in government and responsive governance.
Author of a "policy paper" submitted to the City Council and still used by the Registrar's Office in Alameda County on the subject of "Alternative Voting Methods", Gee made a strong case for Instant Runoff Elections, All Mail Ballots (like State of Oregon) and other voting methods that would increase voter participation.
Gee has helped multiple communities to become more politically involved and to have access to the resources in City Hall. She has worked tiredlessly on multiple voter registration drives and has assisted many citizens in the community to exercise their voting rights.
Ninety-Five percent of the current electoral districts was the results of her 3 year effort (1989-1993) to develop a city-wide, community map to assure that "all" communities had equal access to the political system. She was the principle architect for this city-wide, community effort and earned a reputation for being a fair, honest broker among many community leaders. The relationships and trust earned during this long process remain intact to this day.