Sheila Kuehl
When Kuehl was elected as a Democrat to the California Assembly in 1994 a Republican majority was seated for the first time in 20 years. This was due largely as an out-flowing of the enthusiasm stoked up by Newt Gingrich's strategy supporting Republicans for the Federal Legislature. Kuehl recalled "The Republican majority was quite a different kind of Republican, not a moderate, not a Rockefeller Republican. They were primarily Bible-thumpers and very right-wing. So it was not the most welcoming Republican group, though they loved Zelda Gilroy, and it was very difficult for them because they already liked me so much…. And to their surprise, we all got along very well. ...The Republicans were pretty horrible about LGBT stuff. They all virtually said stuff like, 'Well, they're all spawn of the devil, oh, but not you, Sheila….'"
Jim Cahill
Cahill was born in the farming community of Blackville near Quirindi, New South Wales and was the son of a schoolteacher. Cyril Cahill a member of the Legislative Council between 1961 and 1977 was his brother. He was educated at Tamworth High School and qualified as a licensed pharmacist. Cahill owned a chemist's shop in Armidale, New South Wales and became involved in community organisations including Lions and the Chamber of Commerce. He joined the local branch of the ALP in 1930 and served part-time in the Militia for 5 years. After two unsuccessful attempts, Cahill was elected to the parliament as the Labor member for Armidale at the 1953 state election. He defeated the incumbent Country Party member Davis Hughes by 13 votes. Armidale was usually considered unwinnable for Labor but the result reflected the solid swing to the party at that election. Cahill held the seat for only one term but remained active in the Labor Party after his defeat. He was subsequently indirectly elected, on the party's nomination, to a seat in the Legislative council between 1965 and 1970. He filled the casual vacancy caused by the death of Michael Quinn He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.