From law and politics to bridge and mentorship, this civic powerhouse plays every hand with purpose.

By Jessica Dee Rohm

Many years ago, I read a cover story in a business publication entitled “Why Women Executives Make Better Mothers.” Learning about this month’s profile subject, Linda Seifert, made me wonder if women executives also make better bridge players.

Linda currently serves as president of ACBL Unit 540. She is also a board member of the San Luis Obispo Bridge Club, where she resides with her husband, local attorney Jeffrey Stein. Linda and Jeff first met when they were, respectively, Woman and Man of the Year in community college. They married, divorced, married other people, then remarried each other in 2016. True love is like a grand slam.

Linda, oldest of six children, and her family moved to California from a small town in Minnesota when she was a teenager. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a B.A. in English and went on to earn her J.D. from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review and the Traynor Honor Society.

“I came to bridge because I watched my parents play party bridge with their friends as I grew up. I never imagined that duplicate bridge would become my passion—but it is. Like most players, I strive to improve my game every time I sit at the table, and no game ends without recalling the days of my youth when I learned that bridge is a game where friendships grow, the mind stays alert, and there is a never-ending supply of hands to challenge one’s patience and understanding of the complexities that can emerge. Just like life!” she said.

Linda’s current volunteer activities include serving as an HOA board member and as Chair of the Development Committee for the California Dental Association Foundation, which strives to improve the oral health of Californians— apropos, as bridge can sometimes feel like pulling teeth!

Just out of college Linda started her career with the California Dental Association as an administrative assistant, a job she found by answering a blind ad in the L.A. Times. Within a year, she was promoted and eventually ran virtually all the departments by the time she left the CDA to attend law school. Linda earned her law degree and practiced for over 17 years. She served two terms as District 2 Supervisor on the Solano County Board of Supervisors and in 2016 was named California Assembly Woman of the Year. During her eight years in public office, she held the position of Board Chair for an unprecedented three consecutive years.

As Supervisor, she was an outspoken advocate for improvements in county healthcare programming, chairing the Health and Social Services Subcommittee four times. She played a pivotal role in garnering support for the “CDA Cares” event held in Vallejo in 2015, which provided nearly $2 million in free dental services to underserved residents. She also championed the creation of an independent park district and served as a member and Chair of the Solano Land Trust. As Chair of the county’s First Five Commission, she worked to improve the lives of children and families in Solano County.

Earlier in her career, Linda became the first female partner at the McNamara Law Firm in Walnut Creek and later served as General Counsel for the California Dental Association—the first of two times in her life she returned to a previous love for a second run. During her legal career, she was also President of the Contra Costa County Women’s Bar Association and served on the Board of Directors for the Contra Costa Bar Association.

Following her retirement from law and politics, Linda remained deeply involved in community service. She served on the boards of Advocates for the Arts (2005–2008), the Solano County Library Foundation (2006–2009; Vice President 2008–2009), Child Haven (2006–2009), and the Green Valley Landowners Association (2002–2009; President 2005–2009). As President of the GVLA, she led a successful community effort to protect open space from development. Later, she was part of a team that raised $13 million in a single year to preserve the land in perpetuity.

Now residing in San Luis Obispo, Linda continues to be a powerful advocate for civic and social causes. She works as a volunteer recruiter with Close the Gap, a statewide initiative to achieve gender parity in the California Legislature, and mentors women interested in public office through Women in the Pipeline. She was also an organizer and board member for San Luis Obispo Citizens for Good Government, which successfully challenged a Board of Supervisors redistricting plan. She currently serves as Chair of the Development Committee for the CDA Foundation Board of Directors.

When she isn’t working, volunteering, or playing bridge, Linda is a second mother to her sister’s two daughters and grandparent to Jeff’s two growing grandsons. She has traveled extensively to exotic destinations including India, China, Bali, Europe, and the Amazon.

“I have always viewed bridge as a metaphor for life. You play the cards you are dealt. A finesse is sometimes necessary if you want to get to a good outcome. A bad play can move you right to the bottom. And, sometimes, it seems the deck is stacked!” she said.
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