Dana Culhane
Special to the Sun

Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) honored Judi Tuttle McCarthy as the 32nd Assembly District’s Woman of the Year during a ceremony held Monday at the State Capitol.

The ceremony recognizes an exemplary woman from each Assembly District in the state.

Assemblymember Jean Fuller, Judi McCarthy and father Col. Jack Tuttle, USMC-Ret., shortly after the ceremony on Mar. 8.

“Judi McCarthy is the perfect example of a woman who truly puts the needs of others above herself, as a dedicated wife, mother and philanthropist extraordinaire,” Fuller said. “I am proud to name her the Woman of the Year for the 32nd Assembly District.”

Judi Tuttle McCarthy was raised in a United States Marine Corps family, moving 17 times by the age of 18, and settled in Bakersfield in 1982. She married her husband, Robert, in 1981 and they have two wonderful children, Rob and Katie.

In addition to raising her children, McCarthy spends countless hours giving back to her community. She currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Kern Community Foundation, where she was instrumental in acquiring $450,000 in grant money for Kern County. In addition, she is the Founding Organizer of the Women’s and Girls’ Fund in Kern County, leading the grant making process, including $40,000 for education, training and mentoring, and currently is in the process of guiding volunteers to evaluate grants totalling $20,000 for physical, sexual, and domestic safety.

She is also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Bakersfield, as well as a former member of the Board of Directors of the Lori Brock Children’s Museum.

The California State Assembly’s “Woman of the Year” is an annual ceremony honoring 80 dynamic women throughout the state for their significant contributions to their communities.  The event was founded by Assemblymembers Bev Hansen (R) and Sally Turner (D) in 1987 in honor of Women’s History Month.

Assemblymember Fuller represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, Tehachapi, Taft, Kern River Valley and the Frazier Mountain communities.