SEIU is proud to announce that one of our own, Imelda Ceja-Butkiewicz, was appointed to the Board of Registered Nurses on February 6, 2014 by Gov. Jerry Brown. Imelda has served with SEIU since the founding of Local 521 in Bakersfield. She has been an alternate on the Executive Board, chair steward for the Committee on Political Education (COPE), as well as the public health chapter representative to the Central Labor Council.

Imelda brings with her a commitment to public service, having served various programs at the Kern County Department of Public Health since 1999: Medi-Cal Outreach Program, Maternal Child Disability Program, Child Health and Disability Program, Kern Access to Children’s Health Program, Child’s Dental Program, Refugee Health Assessment Program, HIV/AIDS initiatives (concurrent).

She is committed to community advocacy, serving not only SEIU but also the Kern Homeless Collaborative, International Women’s Program, Central Democratic Party Committee, and Democratic Women of Kern (past President). With her professional start as a legal secretary, Imelda brings with her an extensive background of experience which will serve us all. We are proud to have her continue her dedication to public service with the Board of Registered Nurses. She will serve until re-election on June 1, 2017.

“Ultimately, this position is about doing what’s right and what’s fair for everyone and hopefully making the system work just a little bit better. I think as a person and a member of SEIU, it’s not much more than we all ask of ourselves every day.” - Imelda Ceja-Butkiewicz, RN, Member of SEIU Local 521