Bay Area ACLU leader named to national post

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 1, 2006 | by Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER

A longtime Bay Area civil rights leader has been promoted to a national post and will move to New York City.

Dorothy Ehrlich, 55, of San Francisco, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California's executive director for the past 28 of its 72 years, was named Monday as the national ACLU's deputy executive director.

ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero called her "a superb leader who is highly respected among her peers and colleagues. ... We are delighted to bring her expertise to the national ACLU during this critical time for civil liberties in America's history."

She'll work with Romero coordinating the group's long-term and daily legal, legislative and public education work. The ACLU said it needs the new post because of its huge growth since 2001. Members and supporters have grown by 85 percent to more than 550,000; the budget has doubled; and the national office's full-time staff has doubled to almost 380, including 49 new attorneys.

Ehrlich, in a statement issued Monday, said she's honored by the new job and feels fortunate "to know that I leave the ACLU of Northern California in the hands of a remarkably talented staff, and a dedicated and effective board of directors."

The Northern California ACLU, the largest of the national group's 51 staffed affiliates, will search for a new executive director. It has more than 50 staffers, including nine attorneys and three Sacramento lobbyists. Ehrlich has led campaigns related to abortion rights, opposition to the death penalty, censorship and protection of other civil rights against expanded government powers since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.