Kathleen Unger

Kathleen Unger was an American attorney and is the founder, president, and chairman of VoteRiders,[1][2] a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing voter ID education and assistance to all eligible voters who are in need.[3][4] Ms. magazine described her as "one of the leading experts and legal minds when it comes to election protection".[5]

Kathleen Unger
c. 2012
Born
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Education
  • Boston University, B.S.
  • San Fernando Valley College of Law, J.D.
  • UCLA, MBA
  • Harvard Law School, Mediation Certificate
Occupation(s)Philanthropist, community leader
SpouseStephen A. Unger
Websitevoteriders.org

From 2010 - 2023, Unger was of counsel to the law firm of Freeman, Freeman & Smiley LLP (now Saul Ewing, LLP).[6] She was selected for inclusion in the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America.[7][8][9][10][11][12][6][13]

Unger served as president (for two years) and board member (for ten years) of the Scott Newman Foundation and Center alongside its chairman, Paul Newman.[14][15] Unger served as CEO of the Starbright Foundation (now part of Starlight Children's Foundation), whose chairman was Steven Spielberg.[16][17]

Background

Unger was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Beverly Hills High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and her JD[18] from the San Fernando Valley College of Law[19] where she was named to Law Review and graduated second in her class. Unger received her MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.[20] She is also certified as a Mediator by the Harvard Negotiation Insight Initiative at Harvard Law School.[6]

Unger is part of a family with deep ties in the entertainment industry. She is married to entertainment industry executive recruiter Stephen A. Unger,[20] is the daughter-in-law of film producer Oliver A. Unger, is the sister-in-law of film producer Anthony B. Unger and is the aunt of talent manager and producer David A. Unger.

Professional career

Unger began her career as in-house counsel at MCA/Universal Studios (now NBCUniversal) and remained there for 15 years, rising to vice president, MCA Services Corporation.[15] Unger then became CEO of the Starbright Foundation, working with Steven Spielberg, chairman,[6] to improve the quality of life for children with serious medical conditions by providing entertainment, education and family activities.

After Starbright, Unger was the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Talking Heads,[6] the quarterly publication of the Worldwide Entertainment and Communications practice of Spencer Stuart, one of the three largest executive search firms in the world.[21] Subsequently, Unger was the Senior Strategist for Independent World Television.[6] She also provided editorial services to endocrinologist and menopause expert Diana Schwarzbein for both The Schwarzbein Principle II[22] and her subsequent book.

Election integrity

From October 2002 to the present, Unger has devoted herself to matters of election integrity.[23] In the latter part of 2007 she developed and ran the website Election Preparedness,[24] of which she was co-founder and editor, as well as the producer on several related videos and radio spots.[25]

In April 2012, Unger founded and currently is the President and chairman of the Board of VoteRiders.[26][27][28] Dedicated to ensuring that eligible Americans can vote, VoteRiders supports on-the-ground organizations that assist citizens to obtain their voter ID and inspires local volunteers and communities to sustain such programs and galvanize others to emulate these efforts.[29][30][31][32] On September 21, 2013, VoteRiders hosted its first Voter ID Clinic in Houston.[33] VoteRiders was also active in the 2017 Senate special election in Alabama.[34]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, Unger highlighted disruptions to the 2020 US presidential election and the issue of acquiring Real IDs in the face of travel restrictions.[35]

In August 2020, Unger expressed concern about voter participation in the upcoming election, noting that multiple lawsuits aimed at restricting voting options and baseless claims of widespread fraud via mail-in ballots can confuse voters and depress turnout: "Whether that's anybody's intention or not, that is absolutely an unequivocal result."[36]

Unger has been quoted in the media on non-profit organizations and in connection with voter rights issues.[37][38][39][40] She has spoken at Stanford University,[41] Pepperdine University[42][43] and Occidental College.[44] She has also participated as an expert/panelist at such events as the Carter Center Baker Institute webinar on Voter Registration and Voter ID.[45]

An extensive interview in the January 6, 2021 issue of Ms. magazine highlighted Unger's efforts in ensuring that voters eligible to participate in the 2020 presidential election, as well as the subsequent crucial Georgia Senate runoffs in January 2021, would not be denied their right to vote.[5]

Political and non-profit

Unger co-chaired Rep. Edward Markey's successful 1984 Congressional campaign; served as Director, Business for California's 1988 Presidential Campaign; and was appointed a National Finance Vice Chair and a Trustee for John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaign. In 2013, Unger served as California Co-chair for Congressman Markey's successful campaign for the United States Senate (MA).

Unger has served on the boards of the Santa Monica-based KCRW[46] and the Valley Community Clinic of North Hollywood, CA,[47] including as Vice Chairman. Since 1994, she has served on the Board of Directors (and is now emeritus) of the Eagles Charitable Foundation, formerly known as Eagles Youth Partnership,[48] the foundation of the Philadelphia Eagles football franchise.[49]

References
  1. Zimmermann, Alex (27 March 2013). "Voter ID laws applied unequally, study shows". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  2. Rainey, James (20 October 2012). "Ohio has early voting, but other vote access issues remain". LA Times. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  3. Leslie, Jacques (8 October 2016). "From Voting Rights to Voting Wrongs". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  4. Ringe, Don (10 October 2012). "Voter ID Laws Live On". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. Szal, Roxy; Fleischer, Katie (January 6, 2021). "The Ms Q&A: VoteRiders' Kathleen Unger Talks Voter ID Laws and the Georgia Elections". Ms. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  6. "Kathleen Unger, Of Counsel". Freeman, Freeman & Smiley LLP.
  7. "Four of Freeman Freeman & Smiley Lawyers Selected to 2016 Best Lawyers in America". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  8. "Best Lawyers® 2017 Recognizes Four Freeman Freeman & Smiley Partners". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  9. "Eight Freeman Freeman Smiley Attorneys Named to 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  10. "Eleven Freeman Freeman Smiley Attorneys Named to 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  11. "Eleven Freeman Freeman Smiley Attorneys Named to 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  12. "Twelve Freeman Freeman Smiley Attorneys Named to 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®". Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  13. "Fifteen Freeman Freeman & Smiley Attorneys Named to 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®". Freeman, Freeman & Smiley, LLP. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  14. "Congressional Record - House V155, Pt. 4". H. Res 18. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  15. "Unger Named Prexy Newman Foundation". Daily Variety. 19 February 1988. Kathleen Unger, v.p. MCA Services, has been elected president of Scott Newman Foundation by the board, which at the same time named Paul Newman vice president, and Dr. Joseph Van Der Meulen, v.p. of the University of California, secretary.
  16. "Audio Special: Celebrity Readings From 'The Emperor's New Clothes'". New York Times. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  17. "Kathleen Unger". Source Watch.
  18. "State Bar of California". Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  19. "University of West Los Angeles [Ranking + Acceptance Rate]". EduRank.org - Discover university rankings by location. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  20. "Executive Search Executive Stephen Unger Profiles the Entertainment Industry for Students at The Anderson School at UCLA". Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  21. "Top Executive Search Firms". Executive Trumpet.
  22. Schwarzbein, Diana (2002). The Schwarzbein principle II : The Transition: a Regeneration Process to Prevent and Reverse Accelerated Aging. Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Health Communications. ISBN 1558749640.
  23. Sloan, Ellen (23 August 2012). "Women of All Political Stripes May Be Disenfranchised at November Polls". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  24. Magruder, Melonie (26 September 2012). "Taking Aim at ID Laws". The Malibu Times. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  25. We Will Not Throw Away Our Votes - Florida (2018 video produced by Diane Namm and Kathleen Unger)
  26. "Voter beware: Thanks to ID laws, being registered isn't enough to vote in many states". Los Angeles Times. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  27. Field, Andy (18 June 2012). "Protecting Your Voting Rights". ABC News Radio. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  28. Ringe, Don (30 September 2012). "Time Sensitive Democracy". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  29. Gawronsky, Nathan (2 October 2012). "Voter ID laws to prevent fraud". The Corsair, Santa Monica College. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  30. Coghlan, Ed (5 November 2012). "California group poised to work on voter ID this week, but not in California". CAFwd.org. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  31. Roth, Zachary (2014-11-04). "Texas sees surge of disenfranchised voters". MSNBC. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  32. Brunet, Romain (2014-11-02). "Élections de mi-mandat: ces Américains privés de leur droit de vote". France 24. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  33. Florsheim, Lane. "VoteRiders President Kathleen Unger, Who Aims to Help Disenfranchised Voters in States with Stringent Voter ID Laws". Bustle. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  34. Levine, Sam (December 11, 2017). "There Are Huge Obstacles To Casting A Ballot In Alabama's Special Election". HuffPost. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  35. Unger, Kathleen. "Coronavirus, 2020 Election and the New ID Laws Are Brewing a Perfect Storm. Are We Prepared?". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  36. Beckwith, Ryan (21 August 2020). "Democrats Tiptoe Around How Loudly to Sound Alarm on Voting Risk". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  37. Pereda, Christina (10 September 2012). "Las elecciones de EE UU también se disputan en los tribunales". El Pais. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  38. "VoteRiders Campaign". The Real News. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  39. Ringe, Don (4 November 2012). "GOP Suppression Smacks Down Ohio Turnout". Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  40. Diallo, Amadou (10 February 2016). "Republicans champion voter ID laws absent credible evidence of fraud". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  41. "Calendar of Events". Stanford Votes. Stanford University. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  42. LaZebnik, Ken (8 October 2012). "VoteRiders Org Addresses Voter ID Laws at Payson Library". Pepperdine University. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  43. Irick, Whitney (17 October 2012). "Media strategist speaks on voter ID laws". Pepperdine University Graphic. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  44. "Election Speaker Series - Kathleen Unger - "Voter ID Laws: How You Can Help"". 18 October 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  45. "Event - The Carter-Baker Commission, 16 years later: Voter Registration and Voter ID". www.bakerinstitute.org. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  46. "KCRW Foundation - Board of Directors". One Source. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  47. "Valley Community Clinic". Archived from the original on 2013-03-17.
  48. "Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership". Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  49. Merlo, Debbie (2013-05-20). "Eagles Youth Partnership". Montgomery Media. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
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