Planned Parenthood gets a new president

Cecile Richards takes over.

Published January 9, 2006 10:30PM (EST)

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America today announced that Cecile Richards will be its new president, beginning in mid-February. Richards, who is resigning as president of America Votes, replaces Karen Pearl, who has served as interim PPFA president since the resignation of Gloria Feldt a year ago.

Richards created and directed the Turner Foundation's national pro-choice project and has been on the board of NARAL and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She was also deputy chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi, founded the Texas Freedom Network (which works to counter the influence of the radical right), and has campaigned for her mother, former Texas governor and Broadsheet favorite Ann Richards.

Richards takes the position of Planned Parenthood chief at a particularly terrifying moment. We wish her all the best.


By Rebecca Traister

Rebecca Traister writes for Salon. She is the author of "Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election that Changed Everything for American Women" (Free Press). Follow @rtraister on Twitter.

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